m§ 


Lit  RARY) 


UNIV 
CAL 
SAN  Dll 


J 


3 


THE     HI  STORY 


OF 


VANILLO    GONZALES. 


Alain  Rene  le  Sage 


THE     HISTORY 


OF 


VANILLO  GONZALES 


SURNAMED 


THE   MERRY   BACHELOR 


TRANSLATED    FROM    THE    FRENCH     OF    ALAIN    RENE   LE    SAGE 


<TJ3tf^  §our  (*>rigtnaf  <gfc0t'ngB  fig  (R.  be  £ob  (Ri'os 


'Mores  hominum  multorum  vided  et  urbes" 
"He  many  men  and  many  manners  saw  " 


NEW  YORK 
WORTHINGTON   CO.,  747  Broadway 

1890 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.  The  birth  and  parentage  of  Vanillo ;  and  the  kind  of 

education  he  received I 

II.  Vanillo  resolves  to  quit  the  profession  of  surgery,  and 

proceeds  to  Salamanca  to  complete  his  studies  .         1 1 

III.  Vanillo,  having  reached  Salamanca,  places  himself  in 

a  boarding-house,  the  master  of  which   introduces 

him  into  the  third  class  at  the  university  16 

IV.  The  progress  Vanillo  ma^.e  in  the  study  of  the  Belles 

Lettres  ;  the  cause  which  abated  his  fondness  for 
study  ;  and  the  course  he  took  upon  leaving  the 
university 25 

V.  The  kind  of  service  which  Vanillo  followed  with  Don 
Christoval  de  Gavaria,  and  the  indiscretion  that 
caused  him  to  be  discharged    .....         34 

VI.  The  conduct  of  Vanillo  after  his  dismission  from  the 
service  of  Don  Christoval,  and  by  what  accident  he 
entered  into  the  service  of  the  Licentiate  Salablanca, 
dean  of  th«  cathedral  of  Salamanca — A  description  of 
the  singular  character  of  this  ecclesiastic  ...         42 

VIII.  Vanillo  quits  Salamanca,  and  visits  Madrid — The 
adventure  he  met  with  on  the  road,  and  the  con- 
sequences which  it  produced 60 

b 


vi  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  PAGB 

IX.  The  consolation  which  Vanillo  received  on  being 
released  from  prison,  and  the  happier  situation  in 
which  he  found  himself  on  his  arrival  at  Madrid       .         70 

X.  Vanillo  gains  the  friendship  of  Don  Henry,  who  shows 

him  a  secret  register  which  he  kept  in  his  study        .         74 

XI.  Vanillo  goes  into  the  service  of  another  master,  and 

becomes  a  page  to  the  Duke  of  Ossuna    ...        80 

XII.  The  Duke  of  Ossuna  is  appointed  Viceroy  of  Sicily  ; 
he  departs  from  Madrid  to  embark  at  the  Port  of 
Barcelona,  from  whence  he  proceeds  to  Genoa,  and 
from  thence  to  Naples      ......         84 

XIII.  The  Duke  of  Ossuna  arrives  in  Sicily — His  entry  into 
Palermo,  and  the  first  proceedings  of  his  administra- 
tion        88 


XIV.  The  useful  friend  which  Vanillo  met  with,  and  the  for- 
tuitous circumstance  which  rendered  his  services 
necessary  to  the  Viceroy  ......        95 

XV.  The  particular  conversation  Vanillo  had  with  the 
Duke,  and  with  what  address  he  acted  the  part 
which  Thomas  had  assigned  to  him  .        .        .       100 

XVI.  The  conversation  which  passed  the  ensuing  morning 
between  Vanillo  and  Thomas — The  ingenious  sen- 
tence which  was  passed  by  the  Duke  of  Ossuna,  and 
the  consequences  which  that  sentence  produced 
upon  the  future  fortunes  of  Vanillo  ....       106 

XVII.  By  what  accident  and  with  what  design  Vanillo  became 
an  apothecary,  and  the  happy  effect  which  a  quid  pro 
quo  produced  on  his  fortunes 118 


CONTENTS.  vii 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

XVIII.  The  tragical  accident  which  followed  the  ludicrous 
adventure,  and  the  extreme  peril  in  which  it  involved 
both  Vanillo  and  Potoschi       .....       127 

XIX.  Vanillo,  on  his  passage  to  Leghorn,  gains  the  friend- 
ship of  a  young  gentleman,  who  conducts  him  to 
Pisa — The  union  in  which  they  lived  together,  and 
the  cause  of  their  separation 133 

XX.  Vanillo  meets,  three  miles  from  Pisa,  with  two 
Genoese  who  were  going  to  Florence — He  joins 
company  with  them,  and  is  induced  by  curiosity  to 
visit  a  celebrated  necromancer  .         .         .         .138 

XXI.  The  arrival  of  Vanillo  at  Florence — The  employ- 
ment that  was  offered  to  him — And  the  service  h« 
rendered  Don  Christoval 146 

XXII.  The  conclusion  of  this  adventure — The  apprehensions 
Vanillo  entertained — And  his  departure  from  Flo- 
rence with  Don  Christoval      .         .        .         .        •       157 

XXIII.  Don  Christoval  and  his  suit  embark  at  Leghorn,  and 
sail  to  Barcelona,  from  whence  they  proceed  to 
Saragossa — The  marriage  of  Don  Christoval,  and 
the  consequences  of  this  union         .        .        .        .160 


XXIV.  Don  Christoval  and  Vanillo  arrive  at  the  castle  of 
Rodenas — The  manner  in  which  they  were  received 
by  the  Bishop  of  Albarazin 168 

XXV.  Vanillo  departs  from  the  castle  of  Rodenas  and 
returns  to  Saragossa — He  loses  his  way,  and  sleeps 
in  a  hermitage I71 

XXVI.  The  history  of  the  hermit         .        •       •        •        •        175 


Vlll 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  PACK 

XXVII.  Vanillo  takes  leave  of  the  hermit,  and  proceeds  to 
Saiagossa,  from  whence  he  returns  to  Rodenas 
with  good  news  for  Don  Christoval — The  con- 
sequence of  this  news     ......       206 

* 

XXVIII.  The  conduct  of  Vanillo  on  his  return  to  Salamanca; 
the  important  service  he  rendered  his  friend  Vane- 
gas  ;  and  by  what  accident  he  received  intelligence 
of  Signora  Dalfa  and  the  jilt  Bernardina        .         .       210 


XXIX.  The  melancholy  accident  which  happened  three 
months  afterwards  at  the  Episcopal  Palace  ;  the 
revolution  it  produced  ;  and  the  course  which 
Vanillo  steered  by  the  advice  of  Vanegas 


216 


XXX.   The    private    conversation    which    Master    Damien 
Carnicero  had  with  his  nephew    .... 


220 


XXXI.  The  arrival  of  Vanillo  at  Madrid— What  person  he 
met  at  the  hotel  in  which  he  resided — The  con- 
versation they  had  with  each  other  .         .         .       224 

XXXII.  A  description  of  the  characters  Vanillo  supped  with 
the  same  evening  ;  and  the  debate  in  which  he 
engaged  with  one  of  the  company  .         .         .       239 

XXXIII.  Vanillo,  in  going  to  the  King's  levee,  meets  his 
former  master,  Don  Henry  of  Bologna,  who  takes 
him  to  his  house,  and  shows  him  a  new  kind  of 
register 245 


XXXIV.  The  characters   of  the  two   cavaliers,   and   the  sub- 
ject of  their  visit  to  Don  Henry     .... 


253 


XXXV.  The  important  event  which  happened  a  short  time 
afterwards  at  court  ;  the  changes  which  followed  ; 
and  the  separation  of  Vanillo  and  Ramirez    .         .      256 


CONTENTS.  ix 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

XXXVI.  The  new  acquaintance  which  Vanillo  formed — The 

history  of  Don  Marcos  de  Girafa          .         .         .  259 


XXXVII.  The    pleasures    which    Vanillo    generally   pursued 

during  his  residence  at  Madrid   ....       289 


XXXVIII.  By  what  accident,  and  in  what  situation,  Vanillo 
found  Bernardina — The  conversation  they  had 
with  each  other,  and  the  consequences  it  produced       296 

XXXIX.  Vanillo  sells  his  lotion  and  ointment,  gains  a  large 
sum  of  money,  and  becomes  miserly  in  propor- 
tion as  he  grows  rich  .....       3°7 


XL.  In  which  the  reader  will  find  a  strange  reverse  of 

fortune,  and  a  deplorable  trait  of  human  malice         317 


XLI.  The  consolation  Vanillo  received  during  his  con- 
finement   ........       32^ 


XLIL  The  manner  and  condition  in  which  Vanillo  was 
released  from  the  dungeon  of  the  Holy  Inquisi- 
tion   332 

XLIII.  Vanillo  expresses  his  gratitude  to  Dalfa  and  Ber- 
nardina for  procuring  his  enlargement — The  con- 
soling reception  he  met  with  from  those  ladies,  and 
the  secret  he  communicated  to  them  in  return     .       336 

XLIV.  Vanillo  returns  to  his  hotel — The  conversation  he 
has  with  his  host,  and  the  joy  he  felt  on  meeting 
with  his  former  friend  Ferrari — The  consequences 
which  resulted  from  this  renewal  of  their  acquaint- 
ance ........      342 


s  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  PAGB 

XLV.  Vanillo  takes  leave  of  his  two  associates,  Signora 
Dalfa  and  Bernardina,  and  goes  from  Madrid  to 
Burgos  .  351 

XLVI.  The  history  of  Don  Joachim  de  Rodillas  •        .       356 

XLVII.  The  news  which  Vanillo  received,  and  the  cause 
of  his  quitting  the  chateau  of  Ferrari  to  return  to 
Madrid — The  situation  in  which  he  found  Dalfa 
and  Bernardina,  and  the  new  misfortune  he  ex- 
perienced     ...         '        .         .         .         .       387 


XLVIII.  The  cause  of  Vanillo's  being  released  after  fifteen 
days'  confinement ;  and  the  reason  of  his  being 
sent  to  the  castle  of  Almeda  to  keep  the  Duke  of 
Ossuna  company 396 


XLIX.  The  state  in  which  Vanillo  found  the  Duke  of 
Ossuna — In  what  manner  that  nobleman  received 
him — The  conversation  they  had  with  each  other  ; 
and  the  personages  by  whom  it  was  interrupted     .      402 


L.  The  means  Vanillo  employed  to  divert  the  mind  of 

the  noble  prisoner,  and  the  effects  he  produced       .      407 


LI.  The  Duke,  notwithstanding  all  the  care  of  Vanillo, 
falls  into  a  despondency  which  nothing  could 
dissipate — The  unhappy  event  which  soon  fol- 
lowed it 421 


LIL  The  consequences  of  the  DHke  of  Ossuna's  death, 
and  the  consolation  which  the  King  afforded  to 
his  wife  and  son — Vanillo  enters  into  the  service 
of  Don  Juan  Telle*        ......      425 


CONTENTS.  xi 

CHAPTER  PAGB 

LIII.  The  departure  of  trie  new  Governor,  and  the  accident 
which  prevented  Vanillo  from  accompanying  him 
to  Sicily — The  consequences  of  this  accident  .         .      428 


LIV.  Vanillo's  conversation  with  the  widow,  and  the  aston- 
ishment of  both  of  them  on  discovering  who  they 
were 432 

LV.  The  history  of  Inesill a,  the  sister  of  Vanillo      .        .      437 

LVI.  Vanillo  prepares  to  quit  his  sister,  in  order  to  join  the 
new  Viceroy  at  Palermo,  but  he  hears  news  which 
prevents  his  departure,  and  induces  him  to  stay  at 
Barcelona 452 


THE    HISTORY 

OF 

VANILLO   GONZALES; 

OR, 

THE   MERRY  BACHELOR. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  BIRTH  AND  PARENTAGE  OF  VANILLO  /  AND    THE  KIND 
OF  EDUCA  TION  HE  RECEIVED. 

STATIUS  opens  his  Thebaid  with  the  rape  of  Europa, 
as  the  first  cause  of  the  foundation  of  Thebes.  But 
do  not  be  alarmed,  my  kind  reader  ;  I  will  not  be 
induced,  by  his  example,  to  commence  the  story  of 
my  life  by  informing  you  who  were  my  ancestors  in 
the  reign  of  Pelagus.  It  is  dangerous  to  dive  too 
deeply  into  the  history  of  one's  relations;  and  I  must 
acknowledge  that  I  should  feel  greatly  embarrassed 
if  I  were  obliged  to  speak  even  of  my  grandfathers, 
of  whom  I  never  received  any  very  clear  or  satisfac- 
tory information.  With  the  characters  of  my  father 
and  mother,  however,  I  am  well  acquainted.  They 
were  engaged  in  professions  of  very  opposite  kinds ; 
for  while  my  mother  was  employed  in  bringing  people 
into  the  world,  my  father  was  equally  industrious  in 

A 


2  THE  HISTORY  OF 

putting  them  out  of  it.  In  short,  my  father,  Mr. 
Stephen  Gonzales,  was  a  venerable  doctor  of  physic; 
and  my  mother,  like  the  mother  of  Socrates,  was  a 
midwife. 

My  father  having  taken  his  degrees  in  the  univer- 
sity of  Alcala,  chose  the  city  of  Murcia  for  the  place 
of  his  residence  and  the  scene  of  his  medical  enter- 
prises ;  and  he  was  so  fortunate  as  to  become,  in  a 
short  time,  the  most  fashionable  physician  of  the 
•  country,  though  there  was  nothing  new  in  his  modes 
of  practice,  for  he  followed  implicitly  the  prescriptions 
of  the  ancients,  and  therefore  whenever  a  patient  fell 
a  victim  to  his  advice,  an  event  which  recurred  but 
too  frequently,  he  used  to  say  that  it  certainly  was 
not  his  fault. 

Being  one  day  called  in  to  attend  a  difficult  partu- 
rition, in  which  my  mother,  then  unmarried,  assisted, 
he  was  so  charmed  with  her  youth,  her  beauty,  and 
the  dexterous  manner  in  which,  under  his  inspection, 
she  exercised  her  obstetric  talents,  that  he  soon  after- 
wards married  her,  and  I  was  the  first  fruit  of  this 
union.  My  mother,  in  about  three  years  afterwards, 
was  delivered  of  a  daughter,  who  was  borne  to  the 
baptismal  font  by  a  neighbouring  gentleman  and  his 
female  friend,  and  christened  Inesilla  ;  a  name  since 
rendered  extremely  celebrated,  as  the  reader  will 
perceive  by  the  sequel  of  this  history. 

As  the  wives  of  physicians  generally  die  before 
their  husbands,  my  father  lost  his  professional  asso- 
ciate before  I  had  attained  the  ninth  year  of  my  age. 
Being  placed  as  a  boarder  at  one  of  the  first  schools 
in  the  city,  where  I  was  instructed  in  the  rudiments 
of  the  Latin  tongue,  my  progress  in  learning  was  so 
rapid  that  I  was,  in  a  short  time,  qualified  to  enter 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  3 

into  the  third  class  at  the  university  of  Salamanca, 
where  it  was  intended  I  should  be  sent,  to  complete 
my  studies.  But  at  this  important  period  of  my  life 
my  father  was  seized  with  a  violent  disorder  ;  and, 
treating  his  complaint  according  to  the  prescriptions 
of  Hippocrates,  soon  left  my  sister  and  myself  orphans 
to  bewail  his  loss. 

Damien  Carnicero,  my  mother's  brother,  the  most 
celebrated  surgeon  in  Murcia,  and  my  godfather,  took 
us  under  his  care.  Conceiving  that  I  was  more  likely 
to  succeed  in  his  profession  than  in  that  of  my  father, 
who,  accredited  as  he  was  for  medical  skill,  had  not 
died  rich,  he  took  me  immediately  from  school,  and 
bound  me  apprentice  to  himself.  Like  other  appren- 
tices, I  was  at  first  obliged  to  sweep  the  shop,  to 
draw  water  from  the  well,  to  wash  the  shaving-cloths, 
and  to  heat  the  curling-irons.  I  had  at  this  time  just 
entered  into  the  fourteenth  year  of  my  age,  and  being 
a  thoughtless,  giddy,  gay,  lively  lad,  I  acquired  the 
nickname  of  Merry  Pin.  At  the  expiration  of  two 
months,  I  was  permitted  to  handle  and  instructed 
how  to  use  the  razor.  A  poor  beggar,  who  came  to 
ask  a  charitable  shaving  at  the  shop,  was  the  first 
subject  on  which  I  tried  my  skill  in  surgery:  for  as 
my  uncle  and  his  assistant  were  both  abroad,  the 
operation  of  course  devolved  upon  me.  Desiring  the 
poor  mendicant  to  seat  himself  on  a  bench  which  was 
appropriated  to  these  kind  of  customers,  I  placed  a 
dirty  shop-cloth  beneath  his  chin,  and  lathered  him  so 
spiritedly  about  the  nose,  mouth,  and  eyes,  that  he 
grinned  like  an  old  monkey  tormented  by  its  keeper. 
But  things  took  a  very  different  turn  when  I  began  to 
use  the  razor:  for  the  instrument,  unfortunately  for 
my  patient,  was  so  perverse,  that  at  every  stroke  it 


4  THE  HISTORY  OF 

might  be  said  rather  to  carry  away  the  flesh  than  to 
shave  off  the  beard. 

"  My  little  friend,"  exclaimed  the  beggar,  not  being 
able  any  longer  to  endure  the  pain  he  felt,  "  pray  tell 
me  whether  you  are  shaving  my  beard  or  stripping 
my  skin? " 

"  Both,"  replied  I  ;  "  for  your  beard,  my  honest 
fellow,  is  so  thick  and  stubborn,  that  it  is  impossible 
to  take  off  the  one  without  injuring  the  other." 

My  uncle,  who  entered  the  shop  just  as  I  had 
finished  my  operation,  could  scarcely  refrain  from 
laughing  at  the  ludicrous  figure  which  the  mangled 
face  of  the  poor  devil  presented  to  his  view  ;  but, 
assuming  a  solemn  countenance,  he  presented  the 
sufferer  with  a  (e\v  pieces  of  money,  in  order  to  alle- 
viate the  misfortune  of  having  fallen  under  my  hands. 

This  poor  fellow  most  probably  took  great  care  to 
circulate  intelligence  of  the  extent  of  my  skill  in 
shaving  to  all  his  brethren  ;  for  from  that  hour  no 
beggar  has  ever  ventured  to  ask  charity  at  the  shop. 

My  uncle  severely  reprobated  my  conduct ;  and,  to 
punish  me  for  having  acquitted  myself  so  badly,  in- 
terdicted me  from  using  the  razor  until  farther  orders. 
The  scissors,  however,  I  was  still  permitted  to  wield. 
One  morning,  a  young  student  of  the  university  came 
to  the  shop  for  the  purpose  of  having  his  hair  dressed. 
The  task  was  assigned  to  me.  This  young  gentleman 
was  the  son  of  an  eminent  woollen-draper  ;  and  my 
uncle,  to  have  a  watchful  eye  upon  my  proceedings, 
chose  to  be  present  during  this  operation,  that  I 
might  be  the  more  attentive  to  my  duty.  I  suc- 
ceeded tolerably  well  for  some  time,  and  cut  his  hair 
according  to  the  fundamental  rules  of  the  art.  In 
short,  everything  went  on  in  the  happiest  way  ima- 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  5 

ginable,  until  the  moment  I  was  about  to  make  a 
finishing-stroke,  when  unfortunately  forgetting  that 
he  had  ears  under  his  hair,  I  carried  away  at  least 
half  of  one  of  them  by  a  single  clip  of  the  scissors. 
The  student  uttered  a  dreadful  scream  ;  and  my  kind 
protector  was  no  sooner  informed  of  the  catastrophe 
than  he  bestowed  upon  me  an  equal  and  alternate 
quantity  of  maledictions  and  blows.  Having  applied 
these  little  correctives,  which  I  well  deserved,  he 
dressed  the  wounds  I  had  made,  and  accompanied 
the  sufferer  to  his  father's  house,  to  whom  he  repre- 
sented the  injury  as  the  accident  of  an  awkward 
blockhead,  whom  he  had  left,  by  the  severe  punish- 
ment he  had  inflicted,  half  dead  in  the  shop.  The 
draper,  sensible  that  no  other  compensation  could  be 
procured  for  this  irreparable  injury,  was  at  length 
appeased  by  the  story  my  uncle  told  him,  and  granted 
me  his  pardon. 

The  maledictions  and  blows,  however,  which  my 
uncle  had  given  me,  were  not  the  only  punishments 
I  received  for  this  offence.  I  was  now  interdicted 
not  only  from  shaving,  but  from  cutting  of  hair,  and 
every  other  surgical  operation  whatever,  under  pain 
of  being  strapped  ;  so  that  I  was  reduced  exclusively 
to  the  exercise  of  my  initiatory  functions. 

But  my  inevitable  destiny  counteracted  the  effect 
of  these  necessary  restraints.  One  afternoon,  while 
only  my  uncle  and  myself  were  at  home,  a  man  be- 
twixt six  and  seven  feet  high,  with  a  tremendous 
sword  by  his  side,  and  of  no  very  conciliating  aspect, 
entered  the  shop.  He  had  all  the  appearance  of  a 
ValienU ';  his  hair  was  twisted,  his  hat  fiercely  cocked, 
with  a  large  feather  sprouting  from  one  sice  of  it,  and 
hi j  whiskers  extended  from  the  corners  of  his  mouth 


6  THE  HISTORY  OF 

to  the  middle  of  his  temples  ;  it  was  impossible  to 
look  at  him  without  trembling.  "Master  Damien," 
said  he,  addressing  himself  to  my  uncle,  "turn  up 
my  whiskers."  My  uncle  accordingly  ordered  me  to 
heat  the  irons;  and  while  they  were  in  the  fire,  he 
desired  the  gentleman  to  sit  down  in  the  arm-chair, 
and  adjusted  one  of  his  curls;  but  just  as  he  was 
preparing  to  comb  the  other,  which  he  had  already 
let  down  for  the  purpose,  a  violent  outcry  resounded 
from  the  street.  Running  to  the  door  to  learn  the 
occasion  of  it,  my  uncle  discovered  a  great  concourse 
of  people  surrounding  one  of  his  most  particular 
friends,  who  appeared  preparing  to  fight.  No  longer 
master  of  his  actions,  he  rushed  instinctively  to  the 
assistance  of  his  friend,  leaving  his  customer  in  the 
condition  I  have  described,  with  one  side  turned  up 
and  the  other  hanging  straight  down.  The  quarrel 
continued  so  long,  that  the  gentleman's  patience  was 
quite  exhausted ;  and,  turning  himself  toward  me, 
"My  young  friend,"  said  he,  "are  not  you  able  to 
finish  what  your  master  has  begun  ?  " 

The  question  touched  my  pride  ;  and  feeling  that 
I  could  not,  without  disgracing  myself,  answer  in  the 
negative,  I  boldly  replied,  "  Yes,  sir." 

To  afford  him,  therefore,  unquestionable  testimony 
that  I  possessed  the  talent  of  finishing  a  whisker,  I 
immediately  took  the  irons  red-hot  from  the  fire, 
and  passing  them  too  closely  under  his  nose,  unfor- 
tunately singed  his  upper  lip,  and  quite  burned  away 
the  curl  which  I  had  so  rashly  undertaken  to  dress. 
He  vociferated  a  horrid  yell,  which  shook  the  house 
to  its  foundation  ;  and,  rising  in  all  the  madness  of 
rage  from  his  chair,  "  You  son  of  a  thousand  bitches," 
exclaimed  he,  "  do  you  take  me  for  St.  Laurence  ? " 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  y 

At  the  same  time  he  drew  his  sword  to  run  me 
through  the  body;  but,  before  he  could  accomplish 
his  design,  I  reached  the  door  of  the  shop,  and 
decamped  with  such  rapidity,  that  in  less  than  a 
minute  I  found  myself  at  the  extremity  of  the  city; 
so  true  is  it  that  flying  and  running  are  essentially 
different. 

I  sought  refuge  in  the  house  of  a  mercer  who  lived 
in  the  suburbs,  and  who  was  distantly  related  to  the 
family  by  my  mother's  side,  where,  conceiving  myself 
free  from  all  danger,  "Now,"  exclaimed  I,  "let  fatc 
do  its  worst  in  this  affair." 

The  mercer,  on  my  representing  to  him  the  disastei 
which  had  happened,  burst  into  an  immoderate  fit  of 
laughter;  and  laying  hold  of  the  curling  irons,  which 
I  still  held  fast  in  my  hand,  observed  a  large  lock  of 
hair  with  an  incipient  curl  at  the  end  of  it,  so  long 
and  bristly  that  it  would  have  made  an  excellent 
bottle-brush. 

I  continued  in  my  asylum,  where  my  uncle,  who 
immediately  conjectured  the  place  of  my  retreat, 
found  me  the  ensuing  day.  He  told  us  that  the 
enraged  gentleman,  having  exhausted  his  anger  in  a 
thousand  horrid  imprecations  against  me,  was  at 
length  appeased  by  the  apologies  he  made,  and  went 
away. 

My  uncle  carried  me  home  to  his  shop,  severely 
lectured  my  misconduct,  and  seemed  to  despair  of 
my  attaining  any  great  proficiency  in  the  arts  of 
surgery.  The  shame  of  ignorance,  however,  urged 
me  to  industry,  and  in  a  short  time  I  acquired  so 
complete  a  knowledge  of  the  use  of  the  razor  and  the 
scissors,  that  I  could  shave  without  flaying  the  skin 
and  dress  without  amputating  the  ears  of  his  patients. 


8  THE  HISTORY  OF 

I  even  attained  some  knowledge  of  the  use  of  the 
lancet,  although  I  must  candidly  confess,  that  in  the 
first  operation  which  I  performed  with  this  instru- 
ment I  disabled  the  sword-arm  of  a  young  soldier, 
whom  I  was  entrusted  to  bleed  ;  for,  having  heard 
that  Hippocrates,  in  his  Treatise  on  Phlebotomy, 
recommends  a  large  orifice,  I  made  one  which  ap- 
peared rather  like  the  wound  of  a  lance  than  the 
incision  of  a  lancet;  and  my  patient,  perhaps,  was 
extremely  fortunate  that  he  escaped  with  only  loouig 
the  use  of  his  arm. 

Indeed,  I  could  not  be  anywhere  so  well  situated 
to  learn  the  art  of  butchery,  rather  than  that  of 
adroit  surgery,  as  with  my  protector  Damien  Carni- 
cero ;  and  I  was  perfectly  astonished  that  any  person 
should  be  so  foolish  as  to  place  himself  under  his 
hands ;  for  he  was  bigoted  to  the  practice  of  the 
ancients,  and  followed  their  precepts  with  scrupulous 
precision  and  severity. 

A  few  instances  of  his  mode  of  practice,  in  par- 
ticular cases,  will  completely  exhibit  his  professional 
character.  In  venisection,  he  made  the  incision 
transverselv  ;  and  to  close  the  orifice  either  choked 
the  vein  with  a  silk  cord,  or  cauterised  the  wound 
with  a  red-hot  iron.  To  relieve  a  patient  from  the 
pangs  of  the  gout,  he  made  punctures  on  the  afflicted 
part  with  needles  put  together  in  the  form  of  a  brush, 
and  dissipated  all  scrofulous  swellings  by  pricking 
the  parts  with  the  sharp  points  that  grow  on  a  thorn- 
back's  tail.  A  nasal  haemorrhage  he  stopped  by 
making  a  transverse  incision  from  one  part  of  the 
forehead  to  the  other,  or  rather  two  incisions,  in  the 
shape  of  St.  Andrew's  Cross,  all  round  the  hair)'  part 
of  the  head.     The  most  nowerful  caustics  were  con- 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  9 

stantly  applied  to  the  hip,  loins,  and  thighs,  to  remove 
sciaticas  ;  and  he  extracted  the, headache  by  placing 
red-hot  irons  on  each  side  of  the  nostrils,  temples, 
cheeks,  and  under  the  chin.  The  element  of  fire,  in 
short,  was  his  grand  specific  for  the  cure  of  every 
disorder  ;  and  the  belly,  legs,  and  thighs  of  dropsical 
persons  were  fried  or  broiled  without  mercy.  But, 
as  it  sometimes  happened,  whenever  a  refractory 
patient  obstinately  refused  to  try  the  effect  of  these 
salutary  ordeals,  he  humanely  accommodated  his 
practice  to  the  weakness  of  the  patient;  and,  under 
pretence  of  employing  a  more  anodyne  remedy  than 
fire,  he  scalded  the  flesh  with  hot  water  or  boiling 
oil,  unless  they  preferred  being  singed  with  ignified 
sulphur,  spirits  of  wine,  gunpowder,  melted  lead,  or 
liquified  glass. 

This  able  professor,  anxious  to  instruct  me  in  all 
the  mysteries  of  the  healing  art,  frequently  carried 
me  with  him  when  he  had  any  grand  operation  to 
perform  ;  but,  instead  of  affording  information  to  my 
mind,  he  tortured  every  feeling  of  my  heart.  I  am 
sure  that  I  should  have  endured,  without  complain- 
ing, all  the  pains  that  can  afflict  mankind,  rather  than 
have  undergone  the  mildest  of  his  remedies.  He 
was,  however,  principal  surgeon  to  the  hospital  of 
Murcia,  where  I  constantly  attended  him,  to  learn 
this  art  of  broiling  people  into  health. 

Leaving  me  one  morning  by  the  bedside  of  a  man 
who  had  been  broiled  in  various  ways  for  the  dropsy, 
the  unhappy  sufferer  entreated  me  with  doleful  cries 
to  afford  him  one  drop  of  water,  to  assuage  the  rag- 
ing thirst  by  which  he  was  devoured.  The  heart  of 
a  surgeon  should  be  inexorable  to  the  cries  of  his 
patient,  but,  unable  to  resist  the  affecting  entreaty 


io  xHE  HISTORY  OF 

which  was  made  to  me  upon  this  occasion,  I  pre- 
sented to  his  lips  a  large  jug  half  full  of  water,  which 
he  seized  with  avidity  between  his  hands,  and  emptied 
in  a  moment.  No  sooner,  however,  had  I  afforded 
him  this  comfort  than  he  fainted  away,  and  experi- 
enc<  \  by  an  almost  instantaneous  death,  a  perfect 
relief  from  all  his  complaints. 

Great  as  my  regret  was  at  having  thus  rashly 
listened  to  the  voice  of  pity,  it  did  not  prevent  me 
from  profiting  by  the  fatal  event  my  kindness  had 
occasioned  :  for,  perceiving  the  strings  of  a  purse  just 
peeping  from  the  fob  of  his  breeches,  which  lay  under 
the  pillow  on  which  his  head  reclined,  I  felt  a  strong 
inclination  to  take  it  away,  and  my  virtue  was  too 
weak  to  resist  so  powerful  a  temptation.  I  accord- 
ingly drew  away  the  purse,  which  was  not  <m  empty 
one,  from  the  pocket,  and,  hastily  concealing  it, 
marched  out  of  the  hospital,  leaving  the  deceased, 
whose  heir  I  had  thus  become,  without  having  given 
him  the  trouble  to  make  a  will  in  my  favour. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  u 


CHAPTER   II. 

VANILLO  RESOLVES  TO  QUIT  THE  PROFESSION  OF  SUR- 
GERY, AND  PROCEEDS  TO  SALAMANCA  TO  COMPLETE 
HIS   STUDIES. 

The  impatience  I  felt  to  discover  the  value  of  the 
property  which  had  so  unexpectedly  devolved  upon 
me,  would  not  permit  me  to  go  far  without  satisfying 
my  curiosity.  Stopping,  therefore,  at  the  first  con- 
venient place  for  the  purpose,  I  untied  the  strings  of 
the  purse,  and  discovered  that  it  contained  nve-and- 
thirty  beautiful  doubloons,  as  new  and  shining  as  if 
they  had  been  just  coined,  together  with  a  small 
packet  containing  a  ring  set  with  brilliants,  which, 
though  ignorant  of  the  quality  of  precious  stones,  I 
concluded  to  be  of  great  value.  What  a  treasure  to 
a  poor  lad,  who,  until  this  moment,  had  never  touched 
a  piece  of  gold !      I  thought  my  fortune  was  made. 

"  Possessed  of  'such  riches,"  said  I  to  myself,  "  I 
cannot  do  better  than  to  proceed  to  Salamanca,  and 
finish  my  studies  by  attending  a  course  of  philosophy. 
I  shall  make  a  princely  figure  at  the  university.  It 
is  certair  ly  more  congenial  to  my  disposition  to 
adopt  the  pursuits  of  literature,  than  to  continue  the 
vile  profession  in  which  1  am  at  present  engaged. 
Adieu,  then,  to  surgery,  both  ancient  and  modern! 
I  will  quit  the  city  of  Murcia  immediately."  In 
short,  without  even  an  inclination  to  say  farewell  to 
my  uncle,  who,  without  doubt,  would  have  opposed  my 
design,  I  instantly  set  off  on  the  road  to  Salamanca. 

Walking  closely  along  the  banks  of  the  Segura,  1 


12  THE  HISTORY  OF 

arrived  at  the  village  of  Molina,  where,  finding  my- 
self fatigued,  I  determined  to  pass  the  night,  having 
alreadv  travelled  twelve  miles,  which  I  thought  a 
tolerable  distance  for  the  first  day's  journey.  The 
master  of  the  inn,  in  which  I  intended  to  lodge,  per- 
ceiving a  foot  traveller  wjthout  whiskers,  no  sword 
by  his  side,  and  but  rather  meanly  habited,  concluded 
from  these  appearances  that  I  did  not  abound  in 
money;  addressing  me  in  consequence  with  great 
familiarity,  "Young  gentleman,"  said  he,  "if  I  may 
judge  by  your  appearance,  you  are  not  overloaded 
with  silver,  and  will  therefore,  perhaps,  have  no 
objection  to  regale  yourself  with  a  nice  bit  of  bread 
and  a  moderate  quantity  of  cheese  for  your  supper 
to-night." 

Greatly  mortified  by  this  scornful  and  insulting 
address,  "Sir,"  replied  I,  with  asperity,  "take  notice, 
that  although  I  may  not  be  overburdened  with  silver, 
I  have  plenty  of  gold;"  and  immediately  drawing 
the  pur.se  from  my  pocket,  I  exhibited  to  him  a 
handful  oi  the  doubloons. 

Surprise  and  astonishment  seized  the  countenance 
of  the  host  at  this  sight;  and  taking  one  of  them  in 
his  hand  to  examine  if  it  was  real,  "Ah  !  you  young 
ro^ue,"  said  he,  putting  his  finger  to  the  side  of  his 
nose,  "you  have  been  robbing  a  tender-hearted 
father.  You  have  an  inclination  to  travel,  and  in 
order  to  insure  yourself  a  kind  reception  on  the 
road,  have  laid  violent  hands  on  the  good  man's 
treasures." 

"You  are  deceived,"  returned  I;  "your  conjecture 
is  without  foundation,  for  I  have  neither  father  nor 
mother  alive.  These  double  pistoles  were  given  to 
me  by  uncles  and  aunts,  who  raised  a  contribution 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  13 

among  themselves  to  enable  me  to  proceed  to 
Salamanca,  to  finish  the  studies  I  commenced  at 
Murcia,  the  place  of  my  nativity." 

"Your  friends,  then,"  replied  the  host,  "are  very 
imprudent  to  send  you  alone  with  so  much  gold 
about  you,  upon  the  mules  of  St.  Francis,  to  the 
distance  of  seventy-two  miles  from  your  own  pro- 
vince. If  you  will  follow  my  advice,"  added  he,  "you 
will  continue  your  route  to-morrow  morning  along 
the  banks  of  the  river  until  you  arrive  at  Cruz  de 
Caravaca,  where  you  may  bargain  with  a  muleteer  to 
conduct  you  to  Cividad-Real,  from  whence  you  may 
reach  Salamanca  by  the  same  kind  of  conveyance  in 
five  or  six  days." 

I  thanked  my  host  for  the  friendly  informa- 
tion he  had  afforded  me;  and,  promising  to  follow 
his  advice,  asked  what  he  could  let  me  have  for 
supper. 

"I  have  really  nothing,  in  the  house,"  replied  he, 
"but  bread  and  cheese;  there  is,  however,  a  rich 
farmer  in  the  neighbourhood  who  breeds  poultry  for 
the  purpose  of  supplying  the  markets  at  Carthagena  ; 
I  will  send  to  him  and  purchase  a  couple  of  chickens, 
with  which  I  can  make  you  a  delicious  fricassee; 
and  I  promise  you  not  only  excellent  bread,  but 
some  of  the  finest  wine  in  all  Spain." 

"You  promise  well,''"  answered  I. 

"  And  I  will  keep  my  word,"  said  he.  "  I  talk, 
I  know,  like  most  of  my  fraternity,  but  I  am  deter- 
mined to  make  you  confess  that  there  is  at  least 
one  host  in  Spain  who  treats  his  customers  with 
civility  and  good  cheer." 

And  I  acknowledge  that  I  had  no  reason  to  be 
discontented    either   with  his  fare  or   his  conversa- 


14  THE  HISTORY  OF 

tion.  He  possessed  a  lively  fancy,  and,  contrary 
to  the  generality  of  Spanish  innkeepers,  was  a  very 
honest  man  ;  at  least  he  gave  me  great  reason  to 
think  so,  from  the  conversation  I  had  with  him 
during  supper;  for,  placing  himself  at  the  table  to 
assist  me  in  eating  the  fricassed  chickens,  he  repre- 
sented to  me,  with  great  gaiety  and  good-humour, 
the  dangers  to  which  I  should  be  exposed  at  Sala- 
manca, and  without  assuming  the  austerity  of  a 
moral  preceptor,  exhorted  me  carefully  to  avoid 
them. 

The  ensuing  morning,  when  I  took  my  leave  of 
him,  he  wished  me  every  possible  prosperity;  and 
addressing  me  with  great  gravity,  "Young  gentle- 
man," said  he,  "  I  am  inclined,  in  order  to  enable 
you  to  guard  against  the  dangers  to  which  your 
youth  is  likely  to  expose  you,  to  make  you  a 
present ; "  and  he  immediately  presented  me  with 
a  little  box,  containing  a  thread-paper  and  needles. 

Surprised  at  so  whimsical  a  gift,  I  asked  him  his 
reasons  for  making  me  such  a  present. 

"  I  present  them  to  you,"  replied  he,  "  because 
there  are  three  occasions  upon  which  you  may  find 
a  needle  and  thread  particularly  serviceable. 

"  First,  Sew  up  your  mouth  whenever  you  may 
be  tempted  to  speak  mal-a-propos.  Secondly,  Sew 
up  your  purse  whenever  your  generous  feelings  are 
likely  to  lead  you  into  an  idle  expense.  And  as 
for  the  third  sewing,"  added  he,  "  I  shall  leave  that 
to  your  own  reflection,  upon  experience,  to  find 
out." 

Bursting  into  a  violent  fit  of  laughter  at  this 
ludicrous  conceit,  I  complied  with  his  request,  and 
accepting  the  box,  promised   to  preserve  it   during 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  15 

my  life  as  a  sacred  testimony  of  his  friendship  and 
judicious  counsel. 

I  then  continued  my  journey,  keeping  the  banks 
of  the  river  until  the  close  of  the  day,  when  I  arrived 
at  Cruz  de  Caravaca,  where  I  found  a  muleteer,  who, 
for  a  certain  sum,  agreed  to  carry  me  not  only  to 
Cividad-Real,  but  even  to  the  city  of  Salamanca. 


16  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER   III. 

VANILLO,  HAVING  REACHED  SALAMANCA,  PLACES  HIMSELF 
IN  A  BOARDING-HOUSE,  THE  MASTER  OF  WHICH 
INTRODUCES  HIM  INTO  THE  THIRD  CLASS  AT  THE 
UNIVERSITY. 

On  my  arrival  at  Salamanca,  a  place  I  had  frequently 
wished  with  much  ardour  to  see,  I  went  into  the 
vicinity  of  the  university,  and  addressing  myself 
to  an  old  half-blind  librarian,  who  was  squinting 
for  customers  at  the  door  of  his  shop,  I  requested 
him  to  direct  me  to  a  good  tutor. 

"  If  you  wish,"  said  he,  "  for  a  tutor  who  is  not 
only  learned,  but  who  also  keeps  an  excellent  table, 
I  recommend  you  to  Doctor  Canizares ;  a  man  you 
will  be  pleased  with.  He  lives  there,"  pointing  with 
his  finger  to  a  house  at  a  short  distance:  "you  will 
hereafter  thank  me  for  directing  you  to  a  man  who 
lives  so  hospitably,  that  his  worst  dinners  are  better 
even  than  the  feasts  of  other  tutors." 

Relying  implicitly  upon  the  recommendation  of 
the  old  librarian,  I  went  accordingly  to  the  doctor's 
house,  who,  conceiving  that  I  intended  to  increase 
the  number  of  his  inmates,  received  me  with  every 
demonstration  of  civility  and  respect. 

The  person  of  the  doctor  was  extremely  thin 
and  tall,  his  skin  dry  and  withered,  his  beard  black, 
his  eyes  sunk  into  their  sockets,  and  his  cheeks 
hollow.  It  is  strange,  thought  I,  that  a  man  the 
hospitality  of  whose  board  is  so  celebrated,  should 
appear   so    lank   and    meagre;   but   perhaps  it  may 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  17 

be  constitutional,  for  I  remembered  to  have  heard 
my  uncle  say,  that  bodies,  though  composed  entirely 
of  skin  and  bone,  have  sometimes  such  keen  appe- 
tites, that  if  the  devil  should  appear  to  them  in  the 
shape  of  victuals,  they  would  swallow  him  horns  and 
all. 

Doctor  Canizares  inquired  my  name,  the  situation 
of  my  family,  the  place  from  whence  I  came,  and  my 
views  in  visiting  Salamanca.  I  answered  his  ques- 
tions in  the  way  that  seemed  most  advantageous 
to  my  interests ;  and,  after  further  conversation, 
in  which  he  assured  me  that  I. should  not  repent 
of  having  selected  his  house  for  my  residence,  he 
conducted  me  to  a  small  apartment  in  the  attic 
story,  containing  no  other  furniture  than  a  chest 
of  drawers,  two  chairs,  a  table,  and  a  truckle-bed. 
"  This,  young  gentleman,"  said  he,  "  is  your  apart- 
ment, where  you  may  deposit  your  clothes  whenever 
you  please." 

"  I  have  no  clothes,"  replied  I  ;  "  but,  thank  God, 
I  have  that  which  will  purchase  whatever  I  may 
want ;  and,  to  make  your  mind  perfectly  easy  on 
my  account,  I  am  willing  to  pay  you  the  first  quarter 
in  advance." 

The  doctor  caught  with  eagerness  at  this  pro- 
posal ;  and,  on  his  telling  me  that  his  terms  were 
forty  pistoles  a  year,  I  took  twenty  doubloons  from 
my  purse,  which  I  exhibited  so  as  to  attract  his 
notice,  and  gave  him  five  of  them  for  my  first  quar- 
ter's board  and  lodging.  After  having  carefully 
examined  each  of  them  one  by  one,  he  assured 
me  that  no  pains  on  his  part  should  be  spared  to 
render  me  the  most  learned  member  of  the  Univer- 
sity ;  inquired,  with  seeming  anxiety,  what  progress 

B 


1 8  THE  HISTORY  OF 

I  had  made  in  my  studies  ;  and,  interrogating  me 
upon  subjects  of  moral  philosophy  and  the  sciences, 
declared  that  I  was  well  qualified  to  enter  into  the 
third  class.  This  flattering  appreciation  of  my 
abilities  was  followed  by  a  promise,  that  he  would 
undertake  to  procure  my  reception  into  the  college 
without  any  examination,  as  the  regent  of  that 
form  was  his  intimate  friend  ;  but  while  he  was  pro- 
ceeding to  recommend  the  study  of  the  belles  lettres, 
the  bell  summoned  us  to  supper.  We  accordingly 
descended  into  a  parlour,  where,  in  a  kind  of  re- 
fectory, stood  a  long  and  narrow  table,  at  which 
were  placed  ten  or  twelve  students,  all  of  whom  were 
about  my  own  age,  except  two,  who  might,  perhaps, 
have  reached  their  twentieth  year. 

Having  saluted  the  company  on  entering  the  room, 
and  taken  my  seat  at  the  table,  my  attention  was 
attracted  by  the  similarity  of  the  messes  which  covered 
it.  Before  each  student  were  placed  morsels  of  bread 
about  three  ounces  in  weight,  and  two  plates,  in 
one  of  which  were  two  onions,  roasted  on  the  cinders, 
and  in  the  other  a  handful  of  nuts.  The  apparent 
frugality  of  the  repast,  which  did  not  in  any  decree 
correspond  with  the  praises  the  librarian  had  be- 
stowed on  the  liberality  of  the  doctor,  mortified  me. 
Conjecturing,  however,  that  it  might  be  the  evenino- 
of  a  fast  I  consoled  myself  with  the  hope  of  better 
fare  on  the  succeeding  days.  The  same  quantity 
of  bread,  onions,  nuts,  and  a  pint  mug  of  wine, 
so  abundantly  diluted  that  I  should  have  preferred 
the  pure  water  to  such  a  tasteless  mixture,  were  also 
placed  before  me.  But  a  keen  stomach  reconciles 
every  species  of  food.  I  devoured  my  bread  and 
onions,  cracked    my    nuts,   and    drank    my    mixture 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  19 

with  an  avidity  which,  if  the  doctor  observed  mc, 
must  have  convinced  him  that  I  was  not  a  young 
man  of  a  very  squeamish  appetite.  My  companions 
did  equal  honour  to  their  respective  portions;  and 
everything-  on  the  table  was  so  entirely  eaten, 
cracked,  and  made  an  end  of,  that  even  a  famished 
sparrow  could  not  have  picked  up  a  single  crumb. 

The  repast  being  finished,  we  rose  from  table 
to  enjoy,  in  an  open  court  adjoining  to  the  room, 
the  fineness  of  the  evening.  I  soon  made  myself 
acquainted  with  my  fellow-students,  particularly  with 
the  eldest  of  them,  who,  after  some  conversation, 
drew  me  aside  and  asked  me  who  it  was  that  had 
been  so  much  my  enemy  as  to  advise  me  to  board 
and  lodge  with  Doctor  Canizares.  I  told  him  it  was 
an  old  blear-eyed  librarian  who  lived  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood. 

"  Oh,  the  malicious  wretch  !"  exclaimed  he,  burst- 
ing into  a  fit  of  laughter;  "the  old  fellow  was  only 
joking  with  you  ;  for  he,  as  well  as  the  whole  neigh- 
bourhood, well  knows  we  are  so  scantily  fed,  that  our 
temperance  and  frugality  are  the  common  subject  of 
laughter." 

"  Why,"  replied  I,  "  our  supper  convinced  me  that 
I  was  not  in  a  very  hospitable  house ;  and  I  assure 
you,  I  would  change  my  situation  to-morrow,  if  I 
had  not  foolishly  paid  the  old  rogue  a  quarter  in 
advance." 

"  I  should  have  left  the  house  long  before  now," 
replied  the  student,  "if  the  reason  I  have  for  stay- 
ing was  not  much  stronger  than  my  inclination  to 
depart." 

"  Why,  what  motive  can  you  possibly  have,"  said 
I,  "stronger  than  hunger?" 


20  THE  HISTORY  OF 

"I  will  inform  you,"  replied  the  student.  "The 
learning  of  Doctor  Canizares  is  much  greater  than 
even  his  avarice.  He  possesses  a  complete  know- 
ledge of  the  Greek  and  Roman  authors ;  and  I  assure 
you,  that,  although  he  feeds  the  body  upon  slender 
diet,  he  is  capable  of  furnishing  the  mind  with  a 
rich  variety  of  curious  and  useful  information  ;  and 
therefore  it  is  that  I  content  myself  with  his  nuts 
and  his  onions." 

"You  afford  me  infinite  consolation,"  exclaimed  I. 
"  I  am,  like  you,  disposed  to  endure  the  pangs  of  an 
empty  stomach  for  the  sake  of  possessing  a  well- 
stored  mind." 

While  I  was  engaged  in  this  kind  of  conversation 
with  my  fellow-student,  whose  name  was  Don  Ramirez 
de  Prado,  the  bell  summoned  us  to  bed ;  and  we  soon 
afterwards  parted,  with  reciprocal  assurances  of  friend- 
ship and  esteem. 

On  entering  my  chamber,  I  threw  myself  upon  a 
bed  harder  than  marble,  the  sheets  of  which  were  made 
of  small  rough  towels,  so  coarsely  sewed  together 
that  the  seams  were  more  annoying  than  the  texture 
of  the  cloth.  In  defiance,  however,  of  these  incon- 
veniences, I  slept  like  a  dormouse  until  nine  o'clock 
the  next  morning. 

While  I  was  dressing,  the  Doctor  entered  the  room, 
followed  by  a  person  whom  he  introduced  to  me  as 
the  family  tailor  usually  employed  by  the  young 
gentlemen  in  his  house :  "  He  waits  on  you,"  con- 
tinued he,  "  with  an  offer  of  his  services ;  he  is  a  skilful 
workman,  and  so  conscientious  in  the  way  of  business, 
that  he  never  takes  an  inch  of  cloth  too  much." 

Not  being  very  well  equipped,  I  bargained  with 
him  for  sor~e  clothes;   and,  on   my  paying  him  six 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  21 

double  pistoles,  he  agreed  to  furnish  me  with  a  com- 
plete suit  in  two  days. 

The  tailor  had  scarcely  left  me  before  the  bell 
announced  that  the  hour  of  dinner  approached  ;  and 
I  descended  soon  afterwards  into  the  apartment  where 
we  had  supped  the  preceding  evening.  My  fellow- 
students  also  assembled,  and  we  took  our  respective 
seats  at  the  table.  Although  I  had  prepared  my 
mind  to  expect  a  very  frugal  repast,  the  dinner  now 
served  up  far  surpassed  my  expectation.  The  first 
course  regaled  us  with  soup  like  that  which  they 
usually  give  to  hounds  for  the  purpose  of  preserving 
their  scent ;  crusts  of  mouldy  bread  floated  on  its 
surface,  but  real  bouille  was  difficult  to  be  seen. 
Before  every  student  stood  a  porringer,  from  which 
he  crammed  the  stomach  with  a  degree  of  appetite 
that  excited  my  admiration  ;  and,  although  I  had  not 
hitherto  tasted  much  adversity,  I  tasted  and  supped 
my  soup  until  I  had  emptied  the  porringer. 

My  stomach  was  so  satisfied  by  this  curious  mess 
of  soup  sant£,  that  I  could  not  swallow  a  morsel  of 
our  second  course;  which  consisted  of  a  small  dish 
of  fricasseed  goats'  trotters,  in  which,  I  fancy,  the 
cook  had  not  forgot  the  horns,  so  much  did  it  seem 
to  grate  between  the  teeth.  The  other  students,  how- 
ever, whose  appetites  were  whetted  by  a  constant 
famine,  fell  upon  the  fricassee  with  so  much  eager- 
ness, that  it  vanished  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye. 

This  repast,  which,  without  danger  of  contradiction, 
I  may  say  was  not  the  worst  I  saw  at  Doctor  Cani- 
zare's,  being  finished,  I  went  into  the  city  to  purchase 
such  linen,  books,  and  other  necessaries,  as  were  suit- 
able to  a  student  of  the  third  class  ;  and  when  all  my 
purchases  were  made,  there  remained,  alas!  no  more 


22  THE  HISTORY  OF 

than  twenty  doubloons  in  my  pocket.  "  Courage, 
Vanillo,"  said  I  aloud  to  myself,  "your  affairs,  young 
man,  seem  still  in  a  good  condition.  Twenty  double 
pistoles  is  a  little  fortune  ;  and  when  they  are  ex- 
hausted, I  have  a  further  resource  in  a  diamond  ring; 
for  a  resource  it  certainly  is:  but,  stop,  my  friend' 
Have  you  any  knowledge  of  the  value  of  precious 
stones?  You  know  very  well  that  you  have  not. 
Confess,  then,  what  a  fool  you  would  find  yourself  if 
this  diamond,  upon  which  you  rely  so  much,  should 
prove  a  counterfeit." 

The  torment  which  this  last  reflection  occasioned 
was  intolerable,  and  going  immediately  into  the  great 
square,  where  the  most  opulent  merchants  reside,  I 
entered  the  shop  of  a  jeweller,  and  producing  the  ring, 
requested  he  would  conscientiously  inform  me  what 
it  was  worth.  The  jeweller,  after  a  very  attentive 
examination,  valued  it  at  a  hundred  pistoles,  and 
asked  me  if  I  was  inclined  to  dispose  of  it.  I  told 
him  that  I  had  no  such  intention  at  present,  but  that 
in  all  probability  it  would  soon  find  its  way  to  market. 

"  Well,"  said  he,  "  whenever  you  choose  to  part  with 
it,  bring  it  me,  and  I  will  give  you  its  full  value." 

Considering  myself  another  Croesus,  I  left  the  shop, 
and  reached  home  with  a  mind  occupied  by  the  most 
agreeable  reflections. 

"  Signor  Gonzales,"  said  the  Doctor  to  me  as  I 
entered  the  room,  "  I  have  spoken  to  the  Professor ; 
and,  upon  certain  proofs  which  I  have  given  him  of 
your  capacity,Jie  will  receive  you  into  the  third  class 
without  the  usual  examination.  You  may  take  your 
seat  in  the  college  whenever  you  please." 

This  I  determined  to  do  as  soon  as  I  received  my 
new  clothes  ;  and  accordingly,  a  few  days  afterwards, 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  23 

Doctor  Canizares,  taking  me  in  his  hand  to  the  Univer- 
sity, conducted  me  to  the  apartment  of  the  licentiate 
Guttierez  Hostigador,  the  regent  of  the  third  class, 
-who  received  us  with  great  pomp  and  gravity. 

I  never  saw  the  countenance  of  a  pedant  in  which 
presumption  was  more  strongly  marked  than  in  that 
of  this  licentiate, 

"I  beg  leave,"  said  the  Doctor,  "to  introduce  to 
you  a  young  gentleman  who  wishes  to  augment  the 
number  of  vour  scholars." 

The  licentiate,  placing  his  hand  upon  my  head, 
'said,  "  Sir,  I  have  only  a  few  words  to  address  to  you. 
If  you  possess  talents,  and  are  fond  of  study,  we  shall 
be  contented  with  each  other;  but  if  you  are  indolent 
or  licentious,  you  will  not  find  favour  in  my  sight." 

I  assured  the  regent  that  I  would  do  everything 
in  my  power  to  afford  him  satisfaction. 

"Then,"  said  he,  "you  may  take  your  seat  on  the 
form  this  morning.  But  let  me  recommend  you  not 
to  suffer  a  syllable  of  what  I  shall  say  to  be  lost;  for 
you  will  hear  nothing  from  me  but  what  is  worthy 
of  your  attention." 

We  took  our  leave  of  the  licentiate;  Doctor  Cani- 
zares retiring  to  his  own  home,  and  I  among  the 
scholars,  who  were  walking  in  the  area  of  the  college 
'which  is  appropriated  to  the  third  class.  Being  soon 
.afterwards  summoned  to  the  hall,  I  seated  myself,  as 
a  new-comer,  on  the  lowest  form  ;  and  the  better  to 
ingratiate  myself  with  the  regent,  prepared  to  listen 
to  him  with  the  attention  he  had  recommended.  A 
profound  silence  prevailed  throughout  the  room  the 
moment  he  appeared  ;  and  I  shall  never  forget  the 
arrogance  with  which  he  seated  himself  in  the  pro- 
fessor's chair, 


24  THE  HISTORY  OF 

The  Great  Mogul,  when  seated  on  his  throne,  has 
less  ostentation  than  was  exhibited  on  this  occasion 
by  this  pedagogue,  on  whom  I  kept  my  eyes  invariably 
fixed.  The  countenance  of  every  scholar  discovered 
the  fearful  reverence  in  which  he  was  held ;  but  from 
the  members  of  the  third  class  he  seemed  to  expect 
the  humblest  attention. 

When  any  of  his  disciples  passed  him  in  the  pur- 
lieus of  the  college,  and  inadvertently,  or  otherwise, 
neglected  the  common  salutation,  he  vociferated,  in 
the  most  imperious  tone,  "  Hey,  sir  !  where  is  your 
hat?"  And  if  the  offender  did  not  immediately 
answer  so  as  to  satisfy  his  vanity,  he  was  ordered 
into  the  custody  of  the  lictors,  that  is  to  s  iy,  the 
ushers,  by  whom  he  was  constantly  followed,  who 
were  ordered  to  seize  the  contumacious  scholar,  and 
dra^  him  to  the  rostrum,  where  he  was  soon  con- 
vinced  that  his  breeches  had  but  one  button. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  25 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  PROGRESS  VANILLO  MADE  IN  THE  STUDY  OF  THE 
BELLES  LETTRES ;  THE  CAUSE  WHICH  ABATED  HIS 
FONDNESS  FOR  STUDY;  AND  THE  COURSE  HE  TOOK 
UPON  LEA  VING  THE  UNIVERSITY. 

NOTWITHSTANDING  the  severity  of  the  Professor,  I 
studied  under  his  instructions  for  six  months,  and 
became  the  most  celebrated  of  his  pupils.  My  appli- 
cation, indeed,  during  this  period  was  so  intense,  that 
I  could  not  fail  of  acquiring  considerable  knowledge. 
The  regular  performance  of  college  exercises  was 
not  sufficient  to  satisfy  my  assiduity,  but  I  studied, 
at  my  leisure  hours,  those  excellent  authors  which 
Doctor  Canizares  recommended  to  my  attention, 
and  which  his  learned  and  critical  commentaries  on 
their  texts  enabled  me  the  better  to  understand  ; 
and  by  these  means  profited  at  least  as  much  by 
the  instructions  I  received  at  home,  as  by  those  I 
received  at  college. 

The  pursuits  of  learning,  however,  did  not  prevent 
me  from  sometimes  strolling  along  the  banks  of  the 
Tormes,  which,  by  its  agreeable  and  romantic  wind- 
ings, contributes  to  increase  the  beauty  of  the  rural 
scenery  which  surrounds  Salamanca.  Don  Ramirez 
de  Prado,  the  eldest  student  of  our  house,  was  gene- 
rally my  companion  in  these  excursions.  He  had, 
indeed,  a  powerful  reason  for  preferring  my  company 
to  that  of  other  students;  for,  knowing  that  I  had 
money,  he  did  me  the  favour  to  become  the  borrower, 
and  to  continue  my  debtor  to  this  day;  the  refresh- 


26  THE  HISTORY  OF 

mcnts  also  of  these  walks  were  always  enjoyed  at  my 

expense. 

Don  Ramirez  de  Prado,  although  a  young  collegian, 
had  acquired  some  knowledge  of  the  world  ;  and 
generally  passed  his  vacations,  and  sometimes  his 
class  days,  at  certain  houses  in  the  city,  where,  in 
the  company  of  fashionable  females,  he  relaxed  the 
severities  of  study.  Among  other  females,  he  had 
formed  an  acquaintance  with  a  Signora  Dalfa,  the 
widow  of  a  doctor  of  laws,  about  th'rty-five  years  of 
age,  of  an  agreeable  person,  and  very  lively  disposi- 
tion ;  who,  to  her  own  charms,  which  were  quite 
sufficient  to  attract  a  number  of  admirers,  added 
those  of  a  niece  of  her  husband's,  named  Bernardina, 
a  young  female  whom  no  eye  could  behold  without 
endangering  the  safety  of  the  heart. 

This  experienced  student  offered  one  afternoon  to 
introduce  me  to  his  female  friends,  assuring  me  that 
nothing  so  much  contributed  to  polish  the  maimers 
of  a  young  man,  as  the  company  of  rational  and 
elegant  women  I  was  easily  persuaded  oy  a  com- 
panion with  whom  I  lived  in  the  closest  friendship, 
and  we  accordingly  went  together  to  the  house  of 
Signora  Dalfa.  The  reception  we  met  with  con- 
vinced me  that  my  conductor  was  upon  very  close 
and  intimate  terms  with  the  family.  The  ladies 
almost  overwhelmed  me  with  civilities,  because  I  was 
his  friend,  or  rather,  because  it  had  been  previously 
settled  amongst  themselves,  that  this  was  the  most 
likely  means  to  seduce  me.  An  agreeable  conversa- 
tion of  three  hours,  in  which  the  wit  and  spirit  of  the 
widow  shone  with  great  brilliancy,  in  a  thousand 
lively  and  diverting  sallies,  formed  the  entertainment 
of  the  evening;  but,  although  the  niece  spoke  very 


VANILLA   GONZALES.  27 

seldom,  she  occasionally  glanced  at  me  a  pair  of 
fine  bright  eyes,  which  inspired  me  with  more  delight 
than  all  the  brilliant  sallies  of  her  aunt.  Bernardina, 
who  was  exactly  my  own  age,  and,  without  exaggera- 
tion, a  beautiful  girl,  created  the  warmest  emotions 
in  my  breast  ;  in  short,  without  thinking  of  love,  I 
became  deeply  enamoured  with  her  charms. 

It  was  not  difficult  for  Don  Ramirez,  on  our  return, 
to  conjecture  the  sentiments  which  occupied  my 
mind.  "  Signor  Gonzales,"  said  he,  as  we  were 
walking  home,  "what  think  you  of  my  fair  friends? 
Which  are  you  for,  the  widow  or  the  niece  ?" 

"For  the  niece,"  replied  I,  "although  I  admit  that 
her  aunt  is  extremely  amiable." 

"  Your  candour  upon  this  occasion,"  answered  Don 
Ramirez,  "calls  for  an  open  avowal  on  my  part. 
Know,  then,  that  I  adore  Signora  Dalfa  ;  and  as  we 
are  not  rivals,  both  of  us  may,  without  restraint, 
pursue  our  respective  inclinations." 

Study,  perhaps,  would  in  a  short  time  have  obli- 
terated all  recollection  of  Bernardina;  but  four  days 
had  scarcely  elapsed  before  Don  Ramirez  thus  ad- 
dressed me  :  "  Signor  Gonzales,  I  have  great  news  to 
communicate  to  you.  You  have  charmed  the  lovely 
Bernardina.  She  has  disclosed  the  secret  of  her 
affection  to  her  aunt,  who  has  confidentially  imparted 
it  to  me;  and  the  extraordinary  friendship  I  feel 
for  you  induces  me  to  announce  it  to  you,  to  enable 
you  to  profit  by  the  discovery  I  have  made,  if  you 
are  happy  enough,  as  I  have  no  doubt  you  will  be, 
to  fix  her  affection  so  firmly  as  to  induce  her  to 
marry  you,  you  may  live  at  your  ease  the  remainder 
of  your  days;  for  she  will  be  the  sole  heiress  of  a 
maternal  uncle,  whose  fortune  is  immense,  and  who 


28  THE  HISTORY  OP 

has  only  two  children  extremely  sickly  and  infirm. 
Pay  your  addresses  to  her,  therefore,  with  the  warm- 
est assiduity.  To-morrow  I  will  again  introduce  you 
into  her  company,  Ah  I  regret,"  added  he,  "  is,  that 
I  have  not  a  penny  in  my  pocket;  for,  if  I  had  money, 
I  would  prepare  upon  this  occasion  a  little  elegant 
collation  for  them ;  women  are  extremely  fond  of 
those  who  pay  them  the  tribute  of  expense,  and 
there  are  some  lovers  so  sensible  of  it,  that  they 
frequently,  by  such  means  only,  ensure  their  suc- 
cess." 

Hastily  interrupting  my  companion,  "  Well,  my 
friend,"  exclaimed  I,  "  the  money  that  may  be 
necessary  is  ready.  I  have  yet  some  double  pistoles 
remaining,  which  do  not  belong  to  an}7  man  alive;" 
and  true  it  was  that  their  real  owner  was  dead.  I  ac- 
cordingly drew  from  my  purse  two  doubloons,  which 
I  presented  to  Don  Ramirez,  asking  him  if  that  sum 
would  be  sufficient.  "  Without  doubt,"  replied  he, 
"  we  must  proceed  economically.  I  perceive,  my 
young  friend,  that  you  are  lavish  of  your  money.  I 
must  check  this  generous  disposition.  Leave  the 
management  of  these  matters  to  me.  I  will  under- 
take  to  provide  a  handsome  collation  which  shall 
cost  you  very  little  money,  and  still  do  you  great 
honour." 

I  ought  upon  this  occasion  to  have  availed  my- 
self of  the  needle  and  thread  with  which  my  friendly 
host  at  Molina  had  presented  me ;  but  so  far  was  I 
from  conceiving  that  I  was  employing  my  doubloons 
improvidently,  that  I  felt  myself  much  obliged  to 
my  companion  for  having  suggested  this  pleasur- 
aole  party. 

The   ensuing  day,  I  accompanied    Don    Ramirez 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  29 

a  second  time  to  the  mansion  of  Signora  Dalfa,  who 
received  us  with  accumulated  tokens  of  politeness. 
When  the  refreshments  which  Don  Ramirez  had 
prepared,  consisting  of  a  few  baskets  of  fruit,  and  a 
variety  of  liquors,  some  iced,  and  others  in  their 
common  state,  were  produced,  the  ladies  affected 
great  surprise. 

"  Young  gentleman,"  said  Signora  Dalfa,  with 
seeming  uneasiness,  "you  will  oblige  me  to  find 
fault  with  you  for  putting  yourself  to  this  expense; 
you  are  young,  and  cannot  possess  more  money  than 
yonr  necessary  disbursements  require;  you  should 
therefore  manage  it  prudently." 

"Madam,"  replied  my  friend,  "it  is  not  I  who 
entertain  you  ;  it  is  Signor  Gonzales,  who,  thank 
Heaven,  is  sufficiently  rich  to  afford  a  collation  of 
this  kind  every  day,  without  injuring  his  circum- 
stances. He  has  neither  father  nor  mother  living,  is 
complete  master  of  his  actions,  in  possession  of  a 
good  fortune,  and  enjoys  that  situation  in  which 
every  youag  man  of  family  and  spirit  would  wish 
o  live. 

On  my  part.  I  assured  the  ladies,  that  the  refresh- 
ments produced  were  of  such  trifling  value  as  to  be 
scarcely  worthy  of  their  attention.  Upon  this  obser- 
vation, Don  Ramirez  took  occasion  to  pass  encomiums 
upon  my  generosity,  in  terms  so  extravagant,  that  if  I 
had  not  been,  as  I  certainly  was,  totally  devoid  of  ex- 
perience, 1  must  have  perceived  that  my  friend  was 
privately  leagued  with  these  female  Circes,  and  that 
their  only  design  was  to  ruin  me, — an  event  which 
happened  very  soon  afterwards;  for,  becoming  every 
day  more  and  more  111  love  with  Bernard ina,  I  made 
her  so  many  presents,  and  gave  her  aunt  so  many 


3o  THE  HISTORY  OF 

collations,  that  my  doubloons  disappeared,  and  my 
diamond  ring  found  its  way  to  the  show-glass  of  the 
jeweller. 

I  had  very  little  money  remaining,  when  the  irre- 
gularity of  my  conduct  attracted  the  notice  of  Doctor 
Canizares,  who,  fearful  that  I  might  disable  myself 
from  paying  him  at  the  expiration  of  the  current 
quarter,  insisted  on  having  his  money  immediately, 
although  it  wanted  several  days  of  being  due.  My 
pride  being  piqued  by  his  suspicions  of  my  miscon- 
duct, although  they  were  extremely  just,  I  instantly 
paid  him,  and,  without  waiting  until  my  time  ex- 
pired, immediately  quitted  his  house  to  take  my 
abode  elsewhere. 

I  retired  to  a  furnished  lodging,  which  I  hired 
in  the  city,  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the 
University;  and,  perceiving  that  I  had  now  only 
four  pistoles  remaining,  out  of  all  the  wealth  I  once 
possessed,  resolutely  determined  to  abandon  those 
studies  and  gallantries  which  I  had  no  longer  the 
ability  to  continue. 

Poverty  soon  healed  the  wounds  of  love,  which 
had  so  injuriously  interrupted  the  progress  of  my 
studies;  and  I  resolved  never  more  to  behold  the 
treacherous  Ramirez,  or  the  female  adventurers, 
who  had  conspired  with  him  to  purloin  my  property. 
In  this  renunciation  I  felt  a  sort  of  consolation  for 
the  loss  of  my  money,  as  if  in  not  having  them  as 
witnesses  of  my  misery,  I  was  in  any  degree  less 
misera     e. 

One  morning,  as  I  was  coming  out  of  the  church 
of  St.  Stephen,  my  tutelary  saint,  a  servant  in  a 
very  splendid  livery  saluted  me.  Upon  an  atten- 
tive perusal  of  his  face,  I  recollected  him  as  a  class- 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  31 

fellow  at  college.  "  How,  Mansano ! "  exclaimed  I, 
"  have  you  also  played  truant  from  the  University  ? 
You  have  had,  perhaps,  some  unlucky  disagreement 
with  the  licentiate  Hostigador?  " 

"Even  so,"  replied  Mansano;  "the  tyranny  of 
that  pedant  has  driven  me  from  the  seat  of  learn- 
ing. I  was  induced,  for  the  first  time,  to  absent 
myself  from  college,  and  although  I  publicly  asked 
pardon  before  the  whole  class  for  my  fault,  the  in- 
flexible tyrant,  to  gratify  the  vindictive  disposition  of 
his  mind,  issued  an  order  of  castigation.  Upon  my 
resisting  his  authority,  he  sent  his  myrmidons  to 
seize  me  by  force ;  but  although  I  closed  in  with 
them,  my  courage  could  do  little  more  in  the  un- 
equal contest,  than  to  give  them  marks  of  my  prowess 
upon  the  face  and  shins,  which  they  afterwards  repaid 
by  lashes  on  my  back  with  usurious  interest.  Since 
that  day,"  continued  Mansano,  "  I  have  never  entered 
the  college;  but  to  relieve  my  poor  parents  from  the 
burden  of  maintaining  me,  have  accepted  a  place  in 
the  household  of  the  Bishop  of  Salamanca,  a  prelate 
ot  extraordinary  merit  and  large  revenues,  who  sup- 
ports the  dignity  of  his  see  with  the  liberality  of  a 
prince.  The  hospitality  of  his  table,  to  which  com- 
pany of  the  first  character  and  distinction  daily 
resort,  is  unbounded; — a  single  meal  would  support 
an  hospital  for  three  days;  and  the  condition  of  his 
domestics,  who  scarcely  do  anything  but  drink,  eat, 
play,  and  sleep,  is  truly  happy;  fur,  after  having 
experienced  a  pleasing  servitude  of  nine  o  'ten 
years,  a  handsome  provision  is  made  for  them  for 
the  remainder  of  their  lives." 

I    congratulated    Mansano    on    his    good    fortune, 


32  THE  HISTORY  OF 

and  wished  him  a  good  morning.  Meditating  pro- 
foundly on  the  nature  of  his  employment,  and  the 
felicity  which  he  had  so  impressively  described,  I 
regretted  that  I  had  not  requested  his  interest  to 
introduce  me  to  the  service  of  so  kind  a  master. 
But  upon  recollection,  the  voice  of  ambition  whis- 
pered in  my  ear,  that  the  son  of  a  graduated  physi- 
cian ought  to  entertain  more  elevated  notions,  and  a 
conflict  between  those  common  associates,  pride  and 
poverty,  succeeded.  At  length,  the  impending  indi- 
gence which  threatened  me,  determined  my  choice. 
I  accordingly  hastened  the  ensuing  morning  to  the 
episcopal  palace,  and  inquiring  for  Mansano,  in- 
formed him  of  the  motive  of  my  visit. 

"  Every  department  in  the  bishop's  service,"  said 
he,  "is  at  present  filled;  but  his  nephew,  Don  Chris- 
toval  de  Gaviria,  who  resides  in  the  palace,  is,  I  know, 
in  want  of  a  valet ;  and  if  you  please,  I  will  speak  in 
your  behalf  to  the  major-domo,  who  I  think  on  my 
recommendation  will  immediately  place  you  in  the 
service  of  the  young  lord.  Call  on  me  again  to- 
morrow, and  I  will  then  inform  you  whether  you 
may  expect  this  promotion,  which  will  be  extremely 
advantageous;  for  Don  Christoval  is  the  most  gener- 
ous young  man  existing  ;  and  it  will,  I  assure  you, 
contribute  greatly  to  my  happiness,  to  have  the  man 
my  companion  in  the  palace  who  was  my  comrade 
at  the  college." 

Although  it  was  now  a  long  time  since  I  had  seen 
Signora  Dalfa  and  her  niece,  yet  I  had  profited  so 
much  by  their  examples,  that  I  was  not  sparing  in 
expressions  of  civility  to  Mansano.  Anxious  for  the 
event  of  this  negotiation,  as  the  object  of  it  was  the 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  33 

very  situation  I  wished  to  obtain,  I  returned  the 
ensuing  day  to  the  palace;  and  my  friend  had  con- 
ducted this  business  with  so  much  ability,  that  I 
found  the  major-domo  not  only  prepossessed  in  my 
favour,  but  eager  to  introduce  me  to  Don  Christoval, 
who  immediately  received  me  into  his  service. 


34  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  KIND  OF  SERVICE  WHICH  VANILLO  FOLLOWED  WITH 
DON  CHRISTOVAL  DE  GAVARIA,  AND  THE  INDISCRE- 
TION  THAT  CAUSED    HIM    TO   BE   DISCHARGED. 

BEHOLD  me,  after  having  served  two  years  as  an 
apprentice  to  a  surgeon,  and  attended  ten  months 
as  a  student  in  the  university,  now  acting  as  valet  to 
Don  Christoval  de  Gavaria  ! 

This  young  nobleman,  who  had  just  attained  the 
twenty-fifth  year  of  his  age,  possessed  so  elegant  a 
person,  a  countenance  so  open,  and  such  very  con- 
ciliating manners,  that  I  felt  an  immediate  attach- 
ment to  him ;  but  perhaps  the  high  degree  of 
satisfaction  which  he  expressed  on  the  first  sight 
of  me,  contributed  rather  more  than  his  person  and 
manners  to  inspire  me  with  favourable  sentiments  of 
his  character. 

The  bishop,  who  enjoyed  the  satisfaction  of  hav- 
ing educated  him  himself,  was  extremelv  fond  of 
his  nephew,  who  having  been  recently  released  from 
the  restraints  of  his  governor,  was  now  entirely  free, 
and  at  liberty  to  follow  his  inclinations,  without 
rendering  an  account  of  his  conduct  to  any  person. 
This  emancipation  from  all  responsibility  or  restraint 
exactly  suited  Don  Christoval's  disposition  ;  and  he 
made  good  use  of  the  inestimable  privilege  ;  for  the 
fair  sex  being  the  object  of  his  fondest  pursuits,  he 
seized  with  an  ardent  inclination  every  opportunity 
which  raised  a  hope  of  gallantry  or  intrigue.  An 
old,    "-rave,    religious    valet-de-cliambre    and     mvsell 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  35 

composed  his  household  establishment ;  but  as  I 
appeared  the  better  qualified  to  serve  him  as  an 
agent  in  his  amorous  pursuits,  the  honour  of  the 
caduceus  was  bestowed  upon  me.  He  certainly 
required  a  more  experienced  ferret  than  I  was  to 
hjnt  out  beauties  for  him  ;  but,  as  he  chose  me  for 
his  confidant,  he  without  doubt  concluded  that  I 
should  soon  be  as  fit  as  any  other  for  the  service. 
"  Vanillo,"  said  he  to  me  one  day,  "  I  feel  an  affec- 
tion for  you,  and  as  an  irrefragable  proof  of  it,  listen 
to  me  while  I  disclose  to  you  the  secrets  of  my  heart." 
I  bowed  with  profound  humility,  to  testify  how  sensibly 
I  felt  the  honour  he  conferred  on  me.  "  Know,"  con- 
tinued he,  "that  by  the  mediation  of  one  of  those  old 
women  who  go  about  counting  the  rosary  in  order 
the  more  commodiously  to  offer  at  the  shrine  of  beauty 
the  homages  of  love,  I  have  formed  an  acquaintance 
with  the  most  amiable  woman  in  Salamanca  ;  and 
although  I  have  only  seen  her  once,  I  burn  with 
impatience  to  renew  my  visits.  Go,"  said  he,  putting 
a  paper  into  my  hand,  "go,  find  out  the  old  procuress, 
her  name  is  La  Pepita ;  here  is  her  address  ;  tell  her 
from  me  that  I  languish  in  the  expectation  of  a 
second  interview  with  the  charming  idol  to  whom 
she  introduced  me."  This  last  expression  convinced 
me  that  Don  Christoval  was  far  gone  in  love,  and,  to 
assimilate  my  zeal  to  the  fervency  of  his  feelings,  I 
flew  with  rapidity  to  the  dwelling  of  La  Pepita,  whom 
I  found  at  her  retreat  in  a  small  obscure  court  close 
adjoining  to  the  convent  of  the  Cordeliers.  To  form 
a  true  idea  of  this  antiquated  sorceress,  figure  to  your 
mind  an  ugly  hag  of  seventy-two  years  of  age,  about 
three  feet  six  inches  high,  entire  skin  and  bone,  with 
eyes  redder  than  fire,  and  a  mouth  the  lower  lip  of 


36  THE  HISTORY  OF 

which  protruded  so  as  entirely  to  conceal  its  com- 
panion, and  you  will  form  a  faint  portrait  of  La  Pe- 
pita.  She  received  me  in  a  room  on  the  ground-floor, 
which,  though  dark  and  dirty, was  no  doubt  frequently 
the  asylum  of  love  and  beauty.  Having  opened 
my  commission,  the  accommodating  old  creature 
addressed  me  in  these  words:  "My  young  friend,  you 
may  assure  Don  Christoval  that  he  may  see  the  lady 
he  loves  at  this  house  to-night,  although  this  cannot 
be  accomplished  without  great  difficulty,  as  she  will 
be  obliged  to  escape  from  the  observation  of  a  brother 
who  superintends  her  conduct,  and  whose  vigilance  it 
will  not  be  an  easy  matter  to  elude." 

"  These  are  obstacles  which  my  master  has  saga- 
ciously foreseen,"  replied  I  ;  "here  is  something  from 
him  that  will  enable  you  to  remove  them,"  putting  a 
purse  containing  fifty  pistoles  into  her  hand. 

"  I  would  reject  this  money  with  disdain,"  replied 
the  hag,  "  if  I  thought  your  master  had  any  dis- 
honourable views;  but  I  am  satisfied  he  has  too  much 
virtue  to  entertain  any  base  designs;  and  from  the 
good  opinion  I  entertain  of  his  character,  I  will  do 
even  thing  in  my  power  to  serve  him.  To-morrow  I 
will  promise  him  a  certain  interview  with  the  object 
of  his  affection.  Go,  acquaint  him  with  this  informa- 
tion, and  leave  me  to  count  the  rosary,  which  your 
interruption  prevented  me  from  finishing.  Adieu, 
my  chicken,"  added  she,  patting  me  under  the  chin 
with  her  dry  hand,  "you  appear  a  genteel  young  man, 
and  by  St.  Agnes,  if  I  were  only  in  my  teens,  I  should 
wish  to  have  you  for  my  husband." 

I  had  no  sooner  disclosed  the  success  of  my  em- 
bassy, than  Don  Christoval,  with  a  view  no  doubt  to 
silence  the  voice  of  virtue   in   those   delicate  duties 


VANILLO  GONZALES. 


67 


which  he  was  likely  to  impose  on  me,  presented  me 
with  a  dozen  pistoles,  assuring  me  at  the  same  time, 
that  a  proper  attention  to  his  affairs  should  never 
injure  my  own  ;  and  on  this  assurance  I  firmly  re- 
solved, whatever  might  be  the  part  I  should  afterwards 
be  appointed  to  perform,  always  to  prefer  the  character 
of  confidant  to  that  of  lover,  since  ruin  would  in  all 
probability  be  the  consequence  of  the  one,  and  riches 
of  the  other. 

The  hours  passed  tediously  away  in  the  mind  of 
Don  Christoval,  until  the  time  of  assignation  arrived, 
when,  under  the  friendly  cover  of  the  night,  we  glided 
unseen  unto  the  habitation  of  La  Pepita.  The  heroine 
of  the  scene,  who  was  already  there,  I  had  no  oppor- 
tunity of  seeing;  for  instead  of  being  allowed  to  follow 
Don  Christoval  into  the  parlour  where  she  was  waiting, 
I  was  detained  by  the  old  woman  in  an  adjoining 
chamber;  but  the  two  rooms  being  only  separated 
by  a  thin  wainscot  partition,  I  was  enabled  to  over- 
hear a  great  part  of  the  conversation,  which,  as  will 
be  easily  imagined,  afforded  me  for  some  time  high 
entertainment.  But  how  shall  I  describe  my  astonish- 
ment when  I  thought  I  recollected  the  voice  of  the 
fair  female,  and,  upon  a  more  attentive  ear,  no  longer 
doubted  that  it  was  the  deceitful  Bernardina !  I  was 
quite  confounded,  and  felt  my  anger  rising  to  a  height 
which  reason,  at  any  other  time,  would  not  have  so 
easily  subdued.  "But  let  the  coquette,"  said  I  to 
myself,  "affect  to  love  Don  Christoval  and  a  thousand 
other  men,  what  is  it  to  me  ?  I  have  abandoned  her, 
and  her  behaviour  ought  to  be  no  longer  interesting- 
to  my  heart."  I  could  not,  however,  avoid  feeling  the 
keenest  mortification  on  reflecting  that  a  lady,  who 
had  always  behaved  towards  me  with  modest}-  and 


38  THE  HISTORY  OF 

reserve,  should  at  the  same  time  be  capable  of  acting 
in  violation  of  all  chastity;  it  mortified  my  pride  by 
the  reflection  it  cast  on  my  discernment ;  and  in  the 
moment  of  spleen  and  resentment  I  determined  she 
should  see  and  recollect  me  before  we  left  the  house ; 
for  I  fancied  the  shame  and  confusion  she  would  feel 
on  discovering  that  I  was  privy  to  the  wantonness 
and  duplicity  of  her  conduct  would  afford  me  ample 
revenge.  But,  alas !  I  flattered  myself  with  false 
hopes  ;  for  when  I  presented  myself  to  her  observa- 
tion, she  was  so  far  from  being  disconcerted  by  my 
presence,  that  she  impudently  stared  me  in  the  face, 
and,  affecting  not  to  know  me,  went  out  with  a  degree 
of  effrontery  which  fixed  me  to  the  ground  with  equal 
astonishment  and  concern. 

Don  Christoval,  on  our  return  home,  having  ex- 
hausted all  his  eloquence  in  boasting  to  me  of  his 
happy  fortune,  I  continued  the  conversation  by  as- 
suring him  that  I  rejoiced  extremely  at  the  satisfaction 
he  experienced  from  the  company  of  Bernardina. 

"How!  Bernardina!"  exclaimed  my  master:  "who 
has  informed  you  that  her  name  is  Bernardina  ?  Do 
you  know  her  ?  " 

"  Perfectly,  sir,"  replied  I,  "  as  well  as  Signora  Dalfa, 
her  aunt ;  who,  to  all  appearance,  is  not  better  than 
her  niece.  In  short,  sir,  I  know  what  both  of  them 
are ;  and  if  I  had  never  seen  them,  I  should  not 
perhaps  have  had  the  honour  of  being  your  valet." 

"  Vanillo,"  said  Don  Christoval,  "  I  desire  you  would 
speak  openly  and  without  enigma  upon  this  subject." 

"  There  is  nothing  enigmatical  in  it,  I  assure  you, 
sir;  the  matter  is  very  clear.  I  recognised,  in  the 
person  of  the  lady  you  have  just  seen,  my  old 
acquaintance   Bernardina,   the   niece   of  a    deceased 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  39 

counsellor,  whose  widow  has  taken  her  under  her 
Care.  I  frequented  the  house  of  these  harpies  for 
near  three  months,  and  they  induced  me  to  eat  away 
a  certain  number  of  pistoles  which  I  had  reserved  as 
the  means  of  continuing  my  studies.  But  the  most 
mortifying  circumstance  to  my  feelings  is,  that  this 
very  Bernardina,  this  jilt,  who  finds  her  way  so  easily 
to  the  house  of  La  Pepita,  has  imposed  upon  my 
inexperience  for  the  sake  of  my  money."  I  pro- 
nounced these  last  words  with  a  degree  of  agitation 
which  made  Don  Christoval  laugh.  Pleased  with 
the  rigours  of  which  I  complained,  he  affected  to 
sympathise  with  my  feelings.  "  Poor  lad  !  "  said  he, 
with  an  air  of  raillery,  "in  truth,  Bernardina  should 
not  have  used  a  fond  lover  with  so  much  cruelty. 
The  next  time  I  see  her,  Vaniilo,  rest  assured  I  will 
reproach  her  with  her  misconduct."  As  I  was  not 
able  to  prevent  this  raillery,  I  left  my  master  to  enter- 
tain himself  as  much  as  he  pleased  at  my  expense, 
well  convinced  that  the  time  was  not  far  distant  when 
he  would  repent  of  his  attachment  to  so  perfidious  a 
woman  ;  a  gratification  I  must  infallibly  have  experi- 
enced if  I  had  continued  to  serve  this  young  lord  five 
or  six  months  longer  ;  but,  by  the  decrees  of  inevitable 
fate,  or,  if  you  please,  by  my  own  misconduct,  I  was, 
for  reasons  which  I  shall  now  relate,  dismissed  from 
the  palace  of  the  bishop  two  days  after. 

The  sumptuous  table  of  the  episcopal  palace  was 
almost  daily  frequented  by  nobility  and  gentry  of  all 
ranks  and  distinctions  ;  and  in  such  a  con  com  se  it  is 
not  surprising  that  many  original  characters  should 
occasionally  be  seen.  On  the  fatal  day  which  re- 
moved me  from  the  service  of  my  illustrious  friend 
and  master,  there  appeared  at  this  hospitable  board 


40  THE  HISTORY  OF 

an  old  knight  who  was  afflicted  with  a  disorder  which 
is  sometimes  called  spouting  Latin.  He  had  formerly- 
been  at  college,  and  had  so  stuffed  his  head  by  reading 
the  Latin  poets,  that  it  might  not  inaptly  be  compared 
to  a  large  library  very  badly  arranged.  He  cited  in- 
cessantly divers  passages  which  he  had  got  by  heart 
from  the  works  of  Virgil,  Horace,  Ovid,  Persius, 
Tibullus,  and  Juvenal  ;  and  these  authors  were  so 
confusedly  intermingled  in  his  memory,  that  he  fre- 
quently attributed  the  lines  of  one  author  to  another, 
and  sometimes  misquoted  the  author  himself.  While 
I  was  waiting  at  table  among  the  other  servants  of 
the  palace,  the  old  knight's  favourite  topic  was, 
unhappily  both  for  himself  and  me,  accidentally 
introduced,  and  among  many  other  mistakes,  he 
quoted,  as  from  Persius,  a  passage  in  Horace.  The 
error  was  too  palpable  to  escape  my  notice,  and 
following  my  vain  and  vivacious  disposition,  instead 
of  using  the  needle  and  thread  which  my  friend  at 
Molina  had  given  me,  I  addressed  myself  with  youth- 
ful folly  to  the  knight,  intimating  that  the  passage 
he  had  just  quoted  was  not  from  Persius  but  from 
Horace.  Scarcely  had  I  finished  the  sentence  when 
the  enraged  Latinist  darted  his  eyes  upon  me,  and 
replied  in  a  furious  tone,  "  Silence,  fellow  !  I  am  not 
to  be  instructed  by  a  servant."  This  imperious  and 
scornful  reply  roused  my  feelings  to  an  excess.  "Why 
not?"  replied  I.  "  It  is  not  because  I  serve  you  with 
wine  in  the  character  of  a  servant  that  I  am  not  able 
to  assist  you  with  Latin  as  a  man  of.  letters."  The 
whole  company,  who  had  been  long  well  disposed  to 
laugh  at  the  absurdities  of  my  adversary,  now  burst 
into  a  roar,  and  increased  the  wrath  of  the  enraged 
knight,  who  called  on  Don  Christoval  to  chastise  me 


VANILLO  GCN2ALES.  41 

for  my  insolence  ;  and  I  was  ordered  immediately  to 
quit  the  room.  Conceiving  that  my  crime  would  be 
expiated  by  not  appearing  any  more  in  the  presence 
of  this  learned  retailer  of  Roman  authors,  I  bowed 
and  obeyed  ;  but  in  the  evening  my  master,  with 
much  regret,  said  to  me,  "  My  good  friend  Vanillo,  I 
am  extremely  mortified  by  the  circumstance  which 
happened  at  table  to-day.  Silence  would  certainly 
have  become  you  better  than  so  unseasonable  a 
discovery  of  your  knowledge.  You  have  banished 
yourself  from  the  palace;  for,  however  deserving 
of  satire  and  correction  the  ridiculous  propensity  of 
the  knight  mav  be,  I  cannot  after  this  indiscretion, 
and  the  injunction  he  has  laid  upon  me,  retain  you 
any  longer  in  my  service.  He  is  closely  related  to 
my  uncle  the  bishop,  and  for  a  variety  of  reasons  we 
are  unwilling  to  disobey  his  commands.  The  peculiar 
cast  of  his  character  renders  him  inexorable  upon 
every  occasion  in  which  he  thinks  the  honour  of  his 
erudition  is  impeached  ;  and  if  I  were  to  suffer  this 
night  to  pass  without  discharging  you,  he  would  never 
for"-ive  me.  I  am  reduced  therefore  to  the  painful 
necessity  of  desiring  you  to  leave  the  palace.  I  shall 
however  still  retain  my  affection  for  you,  and  to  afford 
you  some  consolation,"  continued  he,  "I  beg  you  will 
accept-  these  thirty  pistoles.  With  this  assistance  you 
will  be  enabled  to  live  until  you  find  another  place." 

Don  Christoval,  in  pronouncing  these  words,  put  a 
purse  containing  thirty  pistoles  into  my  hand.  I 
thanked  my  kind  master  for  these  testimonies  of  his 
affection,  and  knowing  that  I  could  only  impute  my 
loss  of  his  ",£rvice  to  my  own  indiscretion,  I  immedi- 
ately put  off  the  livery  of  a  servant,  and  resuming  once 
more  the  habit  of  a  student,  departed  from  the  palace. 


42  the  history  op 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  CONDUCT  OF  VANILLO  AFTER  HIS  DISMISSION  FROM 
THE  SERVICE  OF  DON  CHRISTOVAL,  AND  BY  WHAT 
ACCIDENT  HE  ENTERED  INTO  THE  SERVICE  OF  THE 
LICENTIATE  SALABLANCA,  DEAN  OF  THE  CATHEDRAL 
OF  SALAMANCA.  A  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  SINGULAR 
CHARACTER  OF  THIS  ECCLESIASTIC. 

RETURNING,  the  same  evening,  to  my  old  lodgings, 
I  again  hired  them  upon  a  new  agreement,  until 
an  opportunity  should  offer  of  entering  into  the 
service  of  another  master  ;  for  having  hitherto  only 
experienced  its  pleasures,  I  have  made  up  my  mind 
to  continue  in  servitude.  In  the  neighbourhood  of 
my  lodgings,  there  was  a  hotel,  frequented  by  a 
superior  kind  of  company,  particularly  ecclesias- 
tics, where  I  usually  dined  and  spent  my  evenings. 
Among  other  persons,  who  resorted  to  this  house, 
was  a  chorister  belonging  to  the  cathedral,  named 
Vanegas,  with  whom  I  formed  an  intimate  ac- 
quaintance. He  was  a  fat,  chubby  man,  about 
thirty  years  of  age,  extremely  lively  in  his  con- 
versation, and  of  a  disposition  so  congenial  to  my 
own,  that  we  felt  a  pleasure  in  each  other's  com- 
pany from  the  first  moment.  "  May  I  venture  to 
ask  you,"  said  he  to  me  one  day,  "  what  are  the 
objects  of  your  pursuit  at  Salamanca?" 

"  I  am  at  present,"  replied  I,  "  totally  out  of 
employment.  About  eight  days  ago,  I  was  the 
valet   of    Don    Christoval,    nephew   to    the    bishop 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  43 

of  this  city,  but  a  misquotation  of  a  few  lines  in 
Horace  occasioned  my  being  discharged." 

"  Is  it  possible  ?  "  cried  the  chorister  with  as- 
tonishment; "tell  me  the  particulars  of  this  event." 
I  related  to  him  all  the  circumstances  that  had 
passed  ;  and  when  I  repeated  the  passage  which 
had  raised  the  anger  of  the  knight,  he  shook  every 
table  in  the  room  by  the  loudness  of  his  laughter; 
for  his  tones  were  naturally  so  sonorous,  that 
whether  he  sung,  cried,  or  laughed,  his  voice  re- 
sembled more  the  bass  of  an  organ  than  a  human 
sound.  Having  indulged  his  mirth  for  some  time, 
he  became  serious,  and  assuring  me  he  would  use 
his  utmost  endeavours  to  procure  me  a  good  place, 
was  not  long  in  performing  his  promise.  "  My 
friend  Vanillo,"  said  he  the  succeeding  day,  "  I 
have  found  out  a  situation  for  you,  which,  in  my 
opinion,  is  preferable  to  that  you  have  left.  The 
Licentiate  Salablanca,  Dean  of  our  cathedral,  has 
occasion  for  a  person  who  can  act  in  the  double 
capacity  of  secretary  and  servant  ;  and  I  think 
you  will  not  acquit  yourself  badly  in  these  em- 
ployments." 

"  I  trust,"  replied  I,  "  that  I  shall  be  able  to 
discharge  my  duties  with  great  satisfaction  to  the 
Dean,  if  you  will  only  make  me  acquainted  with 
his  character." 

"He  is  a  man,"  replied  Vanegas,  "between  fifty 
and  sixty  years  of  age,  of  unaffected  piety  ;  not, 
like  other  devotees,  austere  in  his  manners,  but 
mild,  affable,  and  cheerful  ;  and  inclined  to  repay 
a  sincere  attachment  with  unlimited  confidence  and 
esteem.  After  dinner,"  continued  he,  "we  will  wait 
on  him,  for  I  would   not  lose  a  moment's  time  in 


44  THE  HISTORY  OF 

placing-  you  with  this  venerable  ecclesiastic,  whose 
preferments  in  the  church  amount  to  more  than  a 
thousand  crowns  a  year." 

Vanegas  accordingly  conducted  me  to  a  small 
but  elegant  mansion,  the  residence  of  the  Licen- 
tiate Salablanca.  "  Sir,"  said  he  to  the  Dean,  "  I 
beg  leave  to  introduce  the  young  man  I  mentioned 
to  you,  Vanillo  Gonzales,  who  is  descended  from  a 
good  family,  but  being  left  an  orphan  early  in  life, 
is  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  servitude.  He  has 
passed  through  the  third  class  of  the  university 
with  success,  and  possesses  honour,  good  sense,  and 
integrity.  I  will  answer  for  him,  for  he  is  my 
particular  friend,  and  I  am  persuaded  you  will 
think  him  a  treasure." 

"And  I  am  sure,"  replied  the  Dean,  "he  cannot 
have  a  better  friend.  A  o-ood  servant  is  a  valu- 
able  present  :  I  am  indebted  to  you  for  recom- 
mending him,  and  I  receive  him  into  my  service 
the  more  readily  because  his  appearance  prepossesses 
me  in  his  favour." 

The  chorister,  who  was  extremely  pleased  at  the 
success  of  his  recommendation,  took  his  leave  of 
the  Dean,  and  left  me  to  obev  his  commands. 
"  Well,  my  young  friend,"  said  my  new  patron 
immediately,  "  we  are  going,  Heaven  be  praised. 
to  live  together.  I  hope  you  are  not  ignorant 
of  the  duties  which  servants  owe  to  their  masters. 
I  am  sensible  on  my  part  of  the  attention  which 
masters  should  always  pay  to  their  servants.  Let 
each  of  us  rigidly  perform  what  is  respectively  re- 
quired of  us,  and  we  shall  grow  in  affection  as  our 
years  advance  :  consider  me  in  the  character  of  a 
father,   and    I    shall   treat    you   as   if  you   were   my 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  45 

own  son."  At  these  words  I  threw  myself  at  his 
feet,  with  earnest  protestations  that  every  endeavour 
on  my  part  should  be  exerted  to  merit  his  kind- 
ness. He  raised  me  up,  when  changing  the  sub- 
ject, "  Vanillo,"  said  he,  "  you  are  no  longer  in  an 
Episcopal  palace  ;  you  have  passed  from  one  ex- 
treme to  the  other.  You  will  see  neither  delicacies 
nor  profusion  at  my  table.  You  are  now  in  the 
service  of  an  ecclesiastic  of  only  the  second  order. 
At  dinner  I  am  contented  with  a  single  dish,  and 
my  supper  consists  of  the  lightest  food."  The 
Licentiate,  having  finished  his  discourse,  desired 
me  to  pack  up  my  necessaries  and  bring  them  to 
the  deanery  ;  an  order  which  I  executed  without 
delay. 

The  Dean,  on  my  return  home,  was  at  supper  in 
the  parlour,  entertaining  himself  in  familiar  con- 
versation with  his  two  other  domestics  who  were 
waiting  on  him.  One  of  them  was  his  cook,  very 
diminutive  in  stature,  antiquated  in  appearance,  and 
deformed  in  person;  the  other  was  his  housekeeper, 
whose  appearance,  age,  and  ugliness,  had  rendered 
extremely  canonical.  I  mixed  occasionally  in  the 
conversation  ;  and  to  commence  my  functions,  went 
to  the  side-board,  on  which  stood  a  bottle  of  port, 
a  decanter  of  water,  and  a  large  glass,  which  I 
filled  and  presented  to  my  master  every  time  he 
called  for  it,  in  a  way  which  showed  that  I  had 
learned  to  perform  the  office  of  cup-bearer  from  the 
hand  of  a  master.  The  light  food  on  which  the 
Dean  supped  that  evening  was  a  shoulder  of  mutton, 
of  which  indeed  he  ate  verv  little  ;  and  soon  after- 
wards  retired  to  his  chamber,  leaving  the  cook, 
the    housekeeper,    and    myself,    to    eat    our    supper 


46  THE  HISTORY  OF 

together  uninterruptedly  in  the  parlour.  I  soon 
rendered  myself  familiar  with  my  companions,  and 
did  not  fail  to  afford  them  an  opportunity,  during 
our  conversation,  of  expressing  their  sentiments  of 
the  Dean.  "  How  happy  are  we,  my  friends,"  said 
I,  "to  have  such  a  master;  so  kind  and  benevolent! 
Does  he  always  converse  with  the  same  affability 
as  he  did  this  evening  ?  Has  he  not  occasionally 
whims,  caprices,  and  ill-humoured  moments?" 

"  No,"  replied  the  distorted  cook,  "  his  temper  is 
always  the  same.  At  certain  periods  indeed  he 
appears  quite  melancholy  and  dejected,  but  it  seldom 
lasts  long,  and  his  servants  never  suffer  by  it.  I 
have,"  continued  the  cook,  "served  other  pious  men 
of  a  very  different  character.  God  knows  the 
sufferinsrs  I  endured  in  the  service  of  a  Canon  of 
Toledo,  who,  though  a  man  of  great  wealth,  was 
by  nature  of  so  violent  a  temper,  that  he  has  fre- 
quently thrown  a  whole  fricassee  at  my  head  when 
it  did  not  happen  to  be  seasoned  to  his  palate." 

"  Thank  Heaven,"  exclaimed  Leonella  (which 
was  the  name  of  the  housekeeper),  "  our  master, 
the  Dean,  has  no  fault.  Some  people,  indeed, 
accuse  him  of  being  avaricious,  but,  although  he 
is  a  churchman,  they  may  perhaps  be  mistaken. 
Instead  of  hoarding  his  money,  as  they  imagine,  he 
perhaps  distributes  it  secretly  among  the  poor, 
which  is  the  proper  way  of  being  truly  charitable; 
for  it  is  better  to  do  good  privately  than  to  trumpet 
one's  actions  to  the  world."  To  these  observations 
many  others  of  a  similar  kind  were  added  ;  from 
which  I  concluded  that  I  was  in  the  service  of  an 
Israelite  indeed,  with  whom  I  should  pass  my  days 
in  comfort. 


VANILLO  GONZALHS.  47 

As  a  shoulder  of  mutton  has  not  much  about 
it  to  amuse  and  entertain  for  any  length  of  time 
three  persons  of  excellent  appetites,  our  supper  was 
soon  over,  and  I  repaired  to  the  chamber  of  the 
Dean,  whom  I  found  kneeling  on  the  floor  before 
a  large  ivory  crucifix,  enshrined  with  ebony,  and 
lined  with  black  velvet.  Having  finished  his  prayer, 
he  rose  from  the  ground,  and  as  I  perceived  he 
was  disposed  to  go  to  rest,  I  offered  to  assist  him 
in  undressing,  be^crincr  that  as  I  had  not  been 
Ions;-  used  to  servitude,  he  would  excuse  me  if  I 
did  not  acquit  myself  so  adroitly  as  I  could  wish. 
I  was  not,  however,  so  awkward  as  I  pretended  to 
be,  for  I  had  had  great  opportunities  of  learning 
everything  which  my  duty  required  in  the  service 
of  Don  Christoval. 

While  I  was  performing  this  task,  the  Licentiate 
asked  me  many  questions  respecting  my  family,  and 
conceiving,  from  my  answers,  that  I  was  not  born 
to  be  a  valet,  he  seemed  to  lament  my  fate.  "  Un- 
fortunate Vanillo,"  said  he,  "  how  sincerely  I  regret 
that  you  lost  at  so  early  a  period  of  your  life  the 
authors  of  your  xistence.  If  it  had  not  been  for 
this  misfortune,  you  would  not  now,  perhaps,  have 
been  in  this  dependent  condition.  But  since  Heaven 
has  so  ordered  it,  my  friend,  you  must  submit  with- 
out murmuring  to  its  decrees.  I  will  endeavour," 
continued  he,  "as  far  as  it  is  in  my  power,  to  soften 
the  rigours  of  servitude,  by  treating  you  in  a  way 
that  shall  scarcely'  render  you  sensible  that  you  have 
a  mister." 

Charmed  by  these  professions,  I  felt  my  bosom 
suddenly  inspired  with  so  much  zeal  and  affection 
for  my  kind  protector,  that  I   could  willingly  have 


48  THE  HISTORY  OF 

met  death  to  serve  him ;  a  pregnant  proof  that  it 
is  always  in  the  power  of  a  master  to  secure  the 
fidelity  and  affection  of  his  servant.  His  kind 
promises  penetrated  so  deeply  into  my  heart,  that 
I  addressed  myself  to  him  in  a  speech,  the  broken 
accents  of  which  must  have  convinced  him  that, 
however  deficient  I  might  be  in  eloquence,  I  was 
by  no  means  so  in  feeling  and  moral  sentiment. 
When  I  had  finished,  he  tapped  me  softly  on  the 
shoulder,  saying,  with  a  smile,  "  Go,  my  young 
friend,  go  to  your  rest.  I  have  every  reason  to 
think  that  we  shall  agree  perfectly  well  with  each 
other.  Your  predecessor  had  only  fifteen  pistoles  a 
year;  but  I  will  give  you  twenty,  as  a  testimony  of 
the  satisfaction  with  which  I  receive  you  into  my 
service." 

Leaving  the  Dean  to  enjoy  the  comforts  of  repose, 
I  retired  to  an  adjoining  chamber,  which  he  used  as 
his  wardrobe,  where  I  found  a  bed  nearly  as  uneasy 
as  that  at  Doctor  Canizares',  on  which  I  passed  the 
night  in  perturbed  repose.  To  show,  however,  that 
indolence  was  not  among  the  number  of  my  faults, 
I  rose  at  the  break  of  day;  so  that  when  the  Dean, 
who  was  a  very  early  riser,  called  me,  I  presented 
myself  before  him  dressed  and  ready  to  receive  his 
commands.  "I  observe,"  said  he,  "you  are  not 
disposed  to  sleep  long  in  the  morning  ;  I  like  you 
the  better  for  it.  Here,"  continued  he,  putting  a 
piece  of  paper  into  my  hand,  "is  an  order  for  two 
h  jndred  crowns,  which,  to  convince  you  of  the  con- 
fidence I  repose  in  you,  you  will  carry  immediately 
to  Don  Juan  de  Barros,  the  receiver-general  of  the 
chapter,  and  bring  me  the  money  for  it."  I  went 
accordingly  to  the  house  of  the  receiver-general,  and 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  49 

executed  my  commission  in  a  way  that  afforded 
great  satisfaction  to  the  Dean,  and  I  became  every 
day  a  greater  favourite. 

I  had  been  near  a  month  in  this  service,  when,  one 
evening,  as  I  was  waiting  at  supper,  I  perceived  the 
Dean  drop  suddenly  into  a  profound  reverie.  Instead 
of  conversing  and  laughing  with  his  servants  with  his 
usual  affability,  he  was  quite  silent.  I  ventured  to 
speak  to  him  two  or  three  times,  but  he  answered 
me  only  with  sighs,  and  appeared  so  oppressed  with 
sorrow,  that  it  was  evident  a  secret  torment  was 
preying  on  his  heart.  The  supper,  of  which  he 
scarcely  ate  a  morsel,  being  over,  he  retired  to  his 
chamber,  and,  dispensing  with  my  attendance,  locked 
the  door.  "  This  is,  without  doubt,"  said  I  to  the 
little  cook,  "one  of  those  desponding  moments  to 
which  you  alluded," 

"Yes,"  replied  the  cook,  "you  now  see  how  dif- 
ferent our  patron  is  from  himself;  but  these  clouds 
of  discontent  soon  pass  away,  and  to-morrow  you 
will  find  him  in  possession  of  his  usual  gaiety." 

Satisfied  that  this  prediction  would  be  verified,  we 
continued  our  supper  in  the  parlour  with  accustomed 
cheerfulness,  and  when  it  was  finished  retired  to  our 
beds  ;  but  while  I  lay  extended  upon  mine,  and  sleep 
was  preparing  to  close  my  eyes,  a  voice  like  that  of 
my  master  struck  upon  my  ear  ;  and,  listening  with 
all  possible  attention,  I  heard  him  walking  with 
agitation  across  his  chamber,  in  sorrowful  soliloquy 
on  the  subject  which  depressed  his  soul.  Although  I 
endeavoured  in  vain  to  hear  distinctly  what  he  said, 
I  caught  occasionally  certain  particular  expressions, 
from  which  I  conjectured  that  it  was  some  delicacy 
of  conscience  which  thus  disturbed  his  repose  ;  and 

D 


50  THE  HISTORY  OF 

I  also  heard  the  sound  of  many  blows  of  discip'Ine 
which  he  inflicted  on  his  body,  and  probably  not 
without  sufficient  cause;  in  this  manner  he  continued 
to  walk,  talk,  beat,  and  torment  himself,  during  the 
remainder  of  the  night. 

The  ensuing  day,  rising  at  his  usual  hour,  he  went, 
without  taking  any  notice  of  what  had  passed,  into  the 
city,  from  whence  he  returned  in  about  three  hours, 
with  an  air  of  gaiety  and  composure,  which  astonished 
me  the  more,  as  I  expected  to  see  him  deep  in  morti- 
fication, and  desired  me  to  attend  him  to  his  chamber, 
when,  locking  the  door  the  moment  I  went  in,  "  O 
Vanillo!"  exclaimed  he,  "I  must  make  you  the  par- 
taker of  my  joy.  I  will  deposit  all  the  secrets  of  my 
soul  in  your  faithful  bosom.  Know,  then,  that  I  have 
just  achieved  an  important  and  glorious  victory." 

"  You  require,  sir,"  said  I,  with  gaiety  equal  to  his 
own,  "  that  I  should  rejoice  in  your  success,  although 
I  am  yet  ignorant  of  what  it  consists." 

"I  have  vanquished  and  dislodged,"  said  he,  "the 
demon  of  avarice!  I  had  amassed  three  hundred 
crowns,  which  I  enclosed  with  anxious  care  in  that 
chest,  and  my  soul  was  attached  only  to  my  trea- 
sure ;  but  it  has  pleased  the  heavenly  Father  to  look 
with  an  eye  of  pity  on  His  servant ;  He  has  stretched 
forth  His  hand  to  save  me.  I  have  this  morning 
poured  all  my  money  into  the  poor-box  of  the  hos- 
pital, and  by  this  means  have  relieved  my  mind  from 
the  heavy  burden  that  oppressed  it." 

You  may  easily  conceive  that  this  discourse,  while 
it  filled  me  with  astonishment,  gave  me  no  very 
favourable  opinion  of  my  master's  understanding ; 
and,  discovering  by  my  countenance  the  opinion  I 
entertained,  he  endeavoured  to  make  me  think  more 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  51 

favourably  of  his  conduct,  by  continuing  his  dis- 
course in  the  following  manner:  "Know,  my  good 
friend,  that  I  was  born  a  miser,  and  feel  a  passion  for 
gold  which  my  morality  is  continually  combating 
without  being  able  to  destroy.  When  I  have  no 
more  money  than  is  absolutely  necessary  to  buy 
food,  and  defray  the  ordinary  expenses  of  my  house- 
hold, my  mind  is  tranquil  and  serene;  but  the 
moment  I  acquire  any  superfluous  wealth,  I  forget 
that  it  is  the  property  of  the  poor.  I  lock  it  up  ;  I 
hide  it;  it  becomes  the  idol  of  my  soul:  the  lust  of 
wealth  fires  my  mind  ;  I  heap  hoard  upon  hoard  ; 
and,  in  short,  surrender  myself  entirely  to  the 
dominion  of  this  furious  passion.  But  although 
avarice  is  triumphant,  it  does  not  long  enjoy  its 
victory.  Charity  soon  interposes  to  vindicate  her 
injured  claims,  and  to  dispute  the  prize  that  avarice 
has  obtained.  Then  it  is  that  I  feel  my  soul  torn  by 
conflicting  passions,  which  plunge  me  into  deep  dis- 
tress and  melancholy  ;  and  I  am  fearful  that  vice 
would  on  these  occasions  frequently  prove  completely 
victorious,  if  Heaven  did  not  interpose  ite  aid  to  pre- 
serve my  virtue  ;  but,  thanks  to  the  Divine  Goodness, 
I  have  always  hitherto  been  able  to  bring  my  enemy 
to  the  ground." 

The  conscientious  divine,  charmed  with  his  recent 
victor}',  having  in  this  manner  unburdened  his  mind, 
and  exhibited  new  transports  at  having  so  happily 
relieved  himself  of  three  hundred  crowns,  prostrated 
himself  before  his  crucifix,  to  return  thanks  to  the 
Almighty  for  having  given  him  strength  to  perform 
this  noble  action ;  where  this  pious  man,  for  so  in 
truth  he  was,  continued  a  quarter  of  an  hour  in 
fervent  prayer.     The  effusions  of  his  grateful  heart 


52  THE  HISTORY  OF 

affected  me,  and  I  could  not  avoid  esteeming  his 
heroic  virtue.  When  he  rose  the  smiles  of  joy 
beamed  on  his  countenance.  "  Vanillo,"  said  he,  "  I 
am  now  more  happy  and  contented  than  language 
can  express.  If  you  could  conceive  the  secret  satis- 
faction I  feel  in  being  released  from  the  tyranny  of 
avarice,  I  am  persuaded  that  from  this  moment  you 
would  follow  my  example.  Let  me  exhort  you,  my 
friend,  to  the  glorious  achievement ;  and  if  you  have 
more  money  than  your  immediate  necessities  re- 
quire, carry  it,  my  good  friend,  to  the  hospital, 
and  by  this  means  check  the  first  growth  of  that 
passion  which  may  insensibly  lead  you  to  the  love 
of  riches." 

I  could  not  help  smiling  at  the  advice  which  the 
Dean  thus  piously  gave  me  ;  but,  although  a  good 
casuist  might  have  raised  considerable  doubts  as  to 
my  right  of  possession,  I  was  not  easily  persuaded 
to  part  with  my  pistoles.  "  Sir,"  replied  I  to  the 
Licentiate,  "  if  I  were  in  possession  of  a  benefice 
which  produced  more  than  my  necessities  required, 
I  should  endeavour,  inimitable  as  your  conduct  is,  to 
follow  your  example  ;  but  consider  for  a  moment, 
that  I  am  only  a  poor  servant  without  patrimony, 
or  any  other  provision  than  about  twenty  pistoles, 
which  I  saved  in  my  former  service;  and  can  I, 
without  being  guilty  of  imprudence,  part  with  them  ? 
It  is  impossible  to  foresee  what  may  happen.  If,  for 
instance,  some  misfortune  should  deprive  me  of  my 
present  situation,  and  a  long  time  should  intervene 
before  I  found  a  new  master,  should  not  I  subject 
myself  to  the  reproaches  of  my  own  conscience,  in 
having  been  so  improvidently  charitable  ?  " 

"  These    sentiments,"    replied    the    Dean,    "  would 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  53 

be  founded  in  good  sense,  if  we  were  warranted  in 
making  provision  against  the  exigencies  of  futurity  ; 
but  we  should  take  no  thought  of  to-morrow,  nor 
should  the  fear  of  want  serve  as  a  pretence  for  de- 
priving the  poor  of  their  right  to  our  superfluous 
wealth."  These  refined  sentiments  produced  no 
effect  upon  my  mind  ;  I  kept  my  pistoles,  and  forgot 
the  advice. 

About  two  months  subsequent  to  this  conversa- 
tion, which  the  Dean  charged  me  not  to  reveal  to 
the  other  servants,  he  again  sent  me  to  the  office  of 
the  receiver-general,  to  touch  another  two  hundred 
crowns,  which  I  brought  and  delivered  to  him  as 
before.  He  put  them  carefully  into  the  fatal  coffer, 
and  kept  them  during  a  period  of  three  weeks,  with- 
out appearing  to  be  the  least  affected.  Soon  after- 
wards, however,  the  tranquillity  of  his  mind  was 
visibly  disturbed,  and  at  length  by  degrees  he  dis- 
covered symptoms  of  approaching  melancholy.  The 
moment  I  perceived  his  situation,  I  addressed  him 
in  these  words  :  "  Sir,  as  I  have  the  honour  to  be 
your  confidant,  I  conceive  it  to  be  my  duty  to  afford 
you  assistance,  although  you  have  not  signified  the 
want  of  it ;  for  I  am  but  too  well  informed  of  what 
is  at  present  passing  in  your  mind.  Avarice  and 
charity  are  there  at  variance,  and  the  event  of  the 
contest  is  uncertain.  Permit,  therefore,  a  faithful 
servant,  who  is  deeply  interested  in  your  happiness, 
to  offer  you  a  clue  by  which  you  may  extricate 
your  mind  from  the  painful  labyrinth  in  which  it  is 
involved." 

"  Yes,  my  dear  Vanillo,"  replied  the  afflicted  Dean, 
"  I  struggle  night  and  day  against  this  powerful 
fiend,  which  seems  to  acquire  new  strength  in  pro- 


54  THE  HISTORY  OF 

portion  as  mine  diminishes.  Aid  me,  if  it  be  in 
your  power,  to  expel  the  monster  from  my  heart." 

"  Most  willingly,  sir,"  replied  I ;  "  and  we  will,  if 
you  please,  drag  him  directly  from  his  den." 

"  Alas  !"  said  the  Licentiate,  "  by  what  means  can 
this  possibly  be  accomplished  ?  " 

"  Nothing  is  more  easy,"  replied  I.  "  Deliver  in- 
stantly into  my  hands  these  formidable  coins,  which 
otherwise  will  soon  destroy  your  peace  of  mind,  and 
I  will  deliver  you  from  the  impending  danger,  by 
casting  them  into  the  charity-box  for  the  poor,  which 
is  placed  at  the  portal  of  St.  Bernard's  Monastery." 

The  Dean  did  not  immediately  acquiesce  in  the 
proposed  expedient  ;  but,  by  degrees,  the  reflection 
of  the  moralist  overcame  the  emotions  of  the  miser. 
"  I  consent,  my  friend,"  said  he ;  "I  invest  you  with 
this  commission  ;  you  will  save  me  from  feeling  the 
pangs  I  should  endure  in  carrying  and  parting  with 
the  money  myself."  The  Dean  accordingly  drew 
from  his  coffer  a  lafge  bag,  and  putting  it  into  my 
hands,  "  There,"  said  he,  "  there  are  the  victims  I 
mean  to  immolate.  There,  my  good  friend,  run,  fly, 
return  immediately,  and  announce  to  me  that  the 
sacrifice  is  performed." 

I  instantly  quitted  the  Dean,  who  could  not  help 
venting  a  sorrowful  sigh  at  my  departure  from  the 
room,  or  rather  at  seeing  his  beloved  victims  carried 
to  the  altar.  I  took  the  road  which  leads  to  St. 
Bernard's  Monastery,  with  intention  faithfully  to 
execute  the  commission  I  was  entrusted  with.  It  is 
impossible  for  man  to  possess  an  honester  mind  than 
that  with  which  I  first  undertook  this  dangerous 
charge  ;  and  certain  it  is,  tl*at  I  should  have  exe- 
cuted  the  trust  with  fidelity,  if  the  demon  of  avarice, 


VANILLO  GONZALES. 


55 


who,  In  malicious  anger  at  having  been  defeated  by 
the  master,  was,  no  doubt,  determined  to  be  revenged 
on  his  man,  had  not  tempted  me.      He  stopped  me 
suddenly  just  as  I  was  entering  into  the  church  porch 
and  whispered   in  my  ear,  "Vanillo,  where  are  you 
going,  like  a  simpleton  as  you  are  ?    What !  carry  water 
to  a  river  that  already  overflows  ?     Do  you  imagine 
that  the  members  of  the  hospital  are  in  want  ?     You 
are  deceived,  Vanillo.     Its  coffers  are  so  amply  filled 
by  the  charitable  donations  of  the  rich,  that  the  kettles 
of  the  poor  are  always  boiling.     Their  revenues  daily 
increase  by  the  bequests  of  dying  sinners.     Besides, 
their   wealth,   unlike   the   wealth   of  others,  is  in  no 
danger   of  being   pillaged    by   the  hands   of  greedy 
stewards.      Their    revenues    are    preserved    by    men 
who  take  a  pleasure  in  protecting  their  interests  for 
the  love  of  God,  without  the  hope  or  expectation  of 
advantage   or  reward.     Do   not  then  throw  away  a 
useful  sum   of  money  which   good    fortune   has   put 
into  your  hands.      Rather  keep  it  yourself.     You  will 
hereafter,  perhaps,  have  occasion  for  it.     Besides,  as 
the   Dean  has  devoted  it  to   the  use  of  the  poor,  a 
portion  of  it  at  least  is  your  right  ;  and  if  there  were 
any  fault  in  appropriating  the  whole  to  yourself,  this 
consideration  will  render  it  less." 

The  artful  devil,  by  putting  these  wicked  notions 
into  my  mind  in  the  shape  of  sound  reasons,  cor- 
rupted my  integrity.  Instead  of  entering  the  church, 
I  directed  my  steps  towards  the  Great  Square,  where, 
for  a  trifling  discount,  a  banker  soon  converted  the 
silver  into  gold,  by  changing  the  crowns  into 
doubloons  and  quadruples,  which  I  conveniently 
concealed  in  my  pocket,  and  returned  to  the  Dean, 
who    was    waiting    for    me    with    impatient   anxiety. 


56  THE  HISTORY  OF 

"Congratulate  yourself,  sir,"  said  I,  accosting  him 
with  a  lively  air,  "the  deed  is  done;  the  fish  are  in 
their  proper  element ;  and  your  mind  may  now 
resume  its  tranquillity." 

"I  am  glad  it  is  over,"  replied  the  Dean.  "  I  thank 
you  for  your  assistance ;  and  you  also,  my  friend, 
have  occasion  to  rejoice,  since  you  have  so  materi- 
ally contributed  to  the  accomplishment  of  this  great 
work." 

"I  feel  great  pleasure,"  replied  I,  "in  the  part  I 
have  taken  ;  and  I  flatter  myself  that  if  you  should 
hereafter  have  the  misfortune  to  relapse,  you  will 
have  recourse  to  the  simple  medicine  which  I  have  so 
successfully  prescribed."  The  Dean  assured  me  that 
he  had  no  other  intention. 

In  a  few  months  afterwards,  however,  finding 
himself  possessed  of  another  superfluous  sum,  and  of 
course  tormented  by  similar  scruples  of  conscience, 
he  had  recourse  to  another  mode  of  relief.  He 
purchased  a  large  number  of  learned  works  upon 
morals  and  divinity,  and  hoped  by  this  bargain 
entirely  to  lull  his  perturbed  spirit.  But,  one  day, 
after  having  remained  a  long  time  in  profound 
meditation  at  the  feet  of  his  crucifix,  he  called  me 
to  him.  I  ran  with  anxiety  towards  him,  and  observ- 
ing that  he  was  more  agitated  and  troubled  than 
ever,  said,  "  My  dear  master,  how  do  you  do  ?  Have 
you  again  occasion  to  emp'oy  me  in  any  pious  under- 
taking?" 

"Ah!  Vanillo,"  replied  he,  uttering  a  deep  sigh, 
"it  is  a  subtle  crafty  demon.  1  fondly  hoped  that 
I  had  eluded  his  snares  ;  but,  alas  !  I  find  that  he  has 
again  entrapped  me.  I  conceived,  that  by  pur- 
chasing these  books,  Charity  would   have  no  reason 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  57 

to  be  discontented.  Fatal  illusion!  These  works, 
excellent  as  they  are,  are  useless,  for  I  have  no 
time  to  read  them;  my  leisure  hours  are  all  em- 
ployed in  prayer.  Why  then,  unhappy  man,  did 
I  make  such  a  purchase  ?  How  many  charitable 
deeds  might  I  have  performed  with  the  money 
which  these  volumes  cost  me,  and  which  now  only 
serve  to  decorate  my  study  with  useless  ostenta- 
tion!" 

The  mind  of  this  too  charitable  ecclesiastic  was 
so  deeply  affected  in  having  made  a  purchase  from 
motives  which  now  appeared  to  him  to  be  criminal, 
that  he  was  almost  disconsolate.  A  confidential 
friend  is  frequently  enabled  to  afford  useful  advice. 

"  The  fault  you  have  been  guilty  of,  sir,"  said  I, 
"is  not  irreparable.  You  may  still,  with  deference 
to  your  better  opinion,  return  these  books  to  the 
bookseller  from  whom  you  purchased  them.  He 
will  take  them  back  at  a  moderate  deduction,  and 
then  I  can  go  immediately  to  the  hospital  with  the 
money  they  produce." 

"Your  advice,"  exclaimed  the  Dean,  "is  like 
inspiration.  I  will  follow  it  immediately."  He  ac- 
cordingly ordered  me  to  fetch  a  number  of  porters, 
which  I  did,  with  an  alacrity  the  cause  of  which  it 
is  not  necessary  to  explain.  There  was,  however, 
one  circumstance  in  this  transaction  which  vexed  me 
extremely.  My  patron  resolved  to  accompany  me 
to  the  bookseller,  who,  as  it  happened,  was  the  very 
librarian  who  knew  so  well  how  to  recommend 
boarding-houses  of  hospitality. 

Although  traders  in  general  are  not  very  well 
satisfied  to  take  back  goods  they  have  once  sold, 
the  old  librarian  very  obligingly  received  back  the 


58  THE  HISTORY  OF 

books,  and  repaid  the  Dean  one  hundred  and  fifty 
crowns  out  of  the  two  hundred  he  had  received  for 
them,  contenting  himself  with  the  residue  to  recom- 
pense himself  as  well  for  certain  opportunities  he 
had  lost  of  selling  them  to  a  greater  advantage,  as 
for  interest  of  his  money  from  the  time  the  purchase 
had  been  made.  I  immediately  laid  hold  of  the 
money,  and  tied  it  up  in  a  bag  which  the  librarian 
gratuitously  lent  on  the  occasion.  As  we  were 
walking  along  the  street,  I  endeavoured  to  induce 
the  Dean  to  return  home,  where  I  promised  to  rejoin 
him  in  a  short  time ;  but  he  still  continued  his 
intention  to  accompany  me  to  the  hospital.  "  How, 
sir,"  exclaimed  I,  "do  vou  doubt  the  integrity  of 
your  faithful  servant  ?  " 

"  Heaven  forbid,"  said  he.  "  No,  my  good  friend, 
I  am  convinced  of  your  fidelity;  my  only  reason  for 
wishing  to  accompany  you  is,  that  I  may  be  an  eye- 
witness of  the  victor)*  I  obtain  ;  but,  since  my  com- 
pany may  import  a  suspicion,  I  will  show  you  that 
you  misconceive  my  motives.  Go,  and  achieve  alone 
,  an  object  so  pleasing  in  the  sight  of  Heaven." 

In  saying  these  words,  he  turned  immediately  to- 
wards the  deanery,  and  I  turned  soon  after  towards 
the  dwelling  of  the  monev-changer,  where  I  a«ain 
converted  my  silver  into  double  pistoles. 

My  purse,  as  you  will  imagine,  became  plump  and 
round  ;  and  in  the  hope  of  swelling  it  to  a  larger  size, 
by  a  longer  continuance  at  the  deanery,  I  felt  myself 
the  happiest  man  in  Spain.  But,  alas  !  a  sorrowful 
event  disappointed  my  expectations.  The  Dean,  a  few 
days  after  the  books  were  disposed  of,  fell  ill,  and  the 
most  celebrated  physicians  of  Salamanca  being  called 
in  to  assist  him,  he  took  their  prescriptions,  and — ■ 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  59 

died*  No  sooner  were  his  eyes  closed  than  the 
numerous  relations  he  had  in  the  city  flecked  with 
eagerness  to  the  deanery,  confident  of  finding  a  hoard 
of  wealth  in  the  coffers  of  the  deceased  ;  and  it  is  im- 
possible to  describe  their  astonishment  on  discovering 
only  the  few  crowns  that  had  been  reserved  for  the 
expenses  of  the  house.  In  answer  to  their  complaints, 
I  told  them  it  was  no  wonder  the  Licentiate  should 
leave  so  little  behind  him,  since  he  had,  in  pursuance 
of  his  favourite  creed,  that  "all  superfluous  wealth 
belonged  to  the  poor,"  regularly  carried  his  to  the 
coffers  of  the  hospital.  The  relations,  dissatisfied 
with  the  slender  inheritance,  divided  what  remained 
among  themselves,  leaving  me,  by  a  sort  of  divina- 
tion of  the  prompt  payment  I  had  made  to  myself, 
scarcely  sufficient  to  satisfy  one-half  of  the  wages 
that  were  due  to  me.  This  deficiency,  therefore, 
must  be  deducted  from  the  portion  I  received  by  the 
good  works  of  my  pious  master. 


60  THE  HISTORY  OF 


JHAPTER  VIII. 

vanillo  quits  salamanca,  and  visits  madrid.  the 
adventure  he  met  with  on  the  road,  and  the 
Consequences  which  it  produced. 

The  city  of  Madrid  had  so  frequently  been  spoken 
of  in  my  hearing  as  the  wonder  of  the  world,  that  I 
felt  a  great  desire  to  visit  this  celebrated  metropolis. 
The  present  situation  of  my  affairs  enabled  me  not 
only  to  gratify  my  wishes  with  ease  and  pleasure,  but 
to  appear  in  a  higher  and  more  respectable  character 
than  that  of  a  valet.  I  flattered  myself  that  a  young 
man  who  was  tolerably  well  versed  in  literary  compo- 
sitions, and  not  deficient  in  understanding,  could  not 
fail  making  his  fortune  at  court,  either  by  attaching 
himself  to  great  men,  or  insinuating  himself  into 
confidence  among  the  clerks  of  the  secretaries  of 
state.  In  short,  filled  with  a  high  opinion  of  my  own 
merit,  I  immediately  purchased  a  fine  mule,  in  order 
to  render  my  entry  more^. graceful,  and  departed  at 
the  break  of  the  ensuing  day  for  Madrid. 

I  directed  my  course  towards  Peneranda,  where  I 
arrived  in  safety  the  same  evening.  But  I  was  far, 
alas  !  from  continuing  in  safety  on  the  ensuing  day. 
On  entering  the  province  of  Old  Castile,  I  observed 
two  roads,  and  not  perceiving  any  person  of  whom  I 
could  inquire  their  course,  I  was  obliged,  after  many 
fruitless  conjectures  and  much  embarrassment,  to  trust 
to  chance.  The  one  road  led  to  the  city  of  Avila,  the 
other  to  Segovia  ;  and  as  a  punishment  for  my  mani- 
fold offences,  as  you  will  find  by  the  sequel,  mischance 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  61 

directed  me  to  take  the  last.  It  conducted  me  be- 
tween two  lofty  mountains,  by  a  route  which  was 
sufficient  of  itself  to  alarm  a  traveller  even  with  empty 
pockets.  If  I  had  possessed  a  proper  knowledge  of 
the  country,  I  might  easily  have  avoided,  by  a  circui- 
tous path,  this  dangerous  passage,  which  was  never 
attempted  to  be  travelled  except  by  such  as  were 
ignorant  of  its  dangers  ;  for,  exclusive  of  the  dreadful 
precipices  by  which  it  was  surrounded,  there  appeared 
at  the  feet  of  the  mountains  great  excavations,  one 
beyond  another,  which  it  was  impossible  to  behold 
without  affright.  Expecting  every  moment  to  see 
armed  assassins  issue  from  these  frightful  caverns, 
overpowered  by  the  phantoms  of  imagination,  and 
feeling  that  not  only  my  life,  but  the  property  of  the 
poor,  was  endangered  in  this  terrifying  place,  my 
limbs  trembled  even-  step  I  went;  and  I  implored  the 
aid  of  Heaven,  without  once  reflecting;  that  I  merited 
rather  dereliction  than  assistance.  I  was  soon  con- 
vinced of  the  justice  of  its  decrees.  Two  men 
(vomited,  as  it  were,  from  one  of  the  caverns)  sud- 
denly appeared  before  me,  and  by  their  ferocious 
aspects,  and  the  tremendous  sabres  which  they  bran- 
dished in  their  hands,  congealed  the  blood  that 
pressed  around  my  heart  ;  their  bodies  also  were  half 
naked  ;  and  fear,  which  always  enlarges  the  size  of 
the  objects  that  create  it,  made  me  conceive  them  of 
enormous  stature.  These  two  new-born  natives  of  the 
earth,  by  placing  themselves  directly  in  front  of  my 
mule,  obstructed  my  further  progress  ;  and,  with  their 
hats  in  their  hands,  asked  charity,  in  a  manner  which 
rendered  it  impossible  to  refuse  their  recpiest.  The 
humility  of  their  supplication,  however,  did  not  in  any 
degree  lessen  the  horrors  of  their  aspects  ;  and  I  threw 


62  THE  HISTORY  OF 

to  them  a  few  pieces  of  silver  coin,  which  I  had  been 
advised  at  Peneranda  to  carry  loose  in  my  pocket, 
in  order  to  avoid  the  dangers  to  which  the  exhibiting 
of  gold  in  my  journey  might  expose  me.  But  the 
two  beggars,  far  from  being  contented  with  this  liberal 
donation,  seized  the  bridle  of  my  mule,  and  declared 
that  I  should  not  get  off  at  so  cheap  a  rate.  "  Young 
gentleman,"  exclaimed  one  of  them,  dragging  me  from 
the  mule,  and  throwing  me  violently  to  the  ground, 
"  we  must  see  in  what  manner  your  purse  is  lined." 

They  accordingly  rifled  my  pockets,  and  took  from 
my  purse  above  a  hundred   pistoles  ;  but  observing 
that  I  appeared  more  dead  than  alive,  they  protested, 
by  way  of  comfort,  that  they  did  not  mean  to  do  me 
any  harm  ;  and   this  assurance  dispelled  at  least  one 
portion  of  my  fears.      This   ceremony  was  scarcely 
ended  before   I   observed,  issuing  from   the  mouth  of 
the  same  cave,  a  number  consisting  of  at  least  sixty 
men  and  women,  some  on  foot,  and  others  on  mules, 
or  asses;  this  honest  group  was  a  banditti  of  Bohe- 
mian robbers.    The  men  wore  short  cloaks,  with  under 
garments,  so  torn  and  ragged  that  they  did  not  every- 
where conceal  the  skin.     Some  of  the  women  were 
whimsically    ornamented    with    gold    collars,    silver 
medals,  and    rich    bracelets  ;  the   others   had  only  a 
simple  covering  from  the  waist  to  the  feet;  the  upper 
parts  of  their  bodies  around  the  neck  and  shoulders 
remaining   naked,    in    defiance   of  all   modest}-,   but 
perfectly   in    character  with    themselves.      The    two 
robbers  who  had  so  completely  emptied  my  pockets 
ordered  me,  on  pain  of  death,  immediately  to  join  the 
cavalcade,  which  filed  off  two  by  two.      We  descended 
from    the   mountain   at   a  distance  of   two  or   three 
hundred   paces   from  the  cave,  and  crossing-  a  large 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  63 

plain,  entered  a  thick  wood,  through  the  middle  of 
which  ran  a  stream  of  clear  water,  where  the  troop 
halted  ;  and  I  could  have  enjoyed  the  beauties  of  the 
surrounding  scenery  with  pleasure,  if  I  had  been  in 
more  agreeable  company.  The  men  busied  them- 
selves in  spreading  upon  the  mossy  turf  various 
refreshments  of  food,  as  well  as  wine,  which  they 
carried  in  calabashes,  after  the  manner  of  the  pilgrims 
of  St.  James,  and  seemed  to  possess  in  great  abund- 
ance. I  was  forced  to  eat  and  drink  with  them  in 
spite  of  my  want  of  appetite;  for  the  moment  I 
showed  the  least  repugnance  to  conform  to  their 
manners,  they  clapped  their  hands  on  their  sabres, 
and  by  this  means  rendered  me  as  pliant  as  a  glove. 
I  became,  indeed,  so  docile,  as  to  suffer  them  to  take 
off  my  clothes,  which  were  of  excellent  cloth, and  quite 
new,  and  array  me  in  one  of  the  habits  of  the  order  ; 
for  they  always  carried  a  certain  number  with  them, 
which  they  forced  such  young  gentlemen  as  had  the 
misfortune  to  fall  into  their  hands,  to  put  on. 

After  indulging  themselves  in  eating  and  drinking 
for  three  or  four  hours,  the  men  and  women  began  to 
dance  in  a  style  certainly  more  free  than  graceful. 
A  savage  mirth  everywhere  prevailed  ;  and  it  was 
resolved  to  pass  the  night  under  those  delightful 
shades,  when  two  of  their  companions,  who  had  been 
placed  as  sentinels  at  a  certain  distance,  arrived,  and 
disturbed  the  festivity  of  the  troop,  by  announcing1 
that  a  brigade  of  the  holy  brotherhood  was  at  the 
distance  of  only  thirty  paces  from  the  wood.  Rely- 
ing upon  their  superior  numbers,  this  information  did 
not  appear  to  create  the  least  alarm  ;  but  each,  even 
of  the  least  courageous,  calmly  prepared  himself  to 
receive  the  enemy.     A  single  brigade  would,  in  all 


64  THE  HISTORY  OF 

probability,  have  been  too  feeble  to  conquer  so  large 
a  band  of  robbers,  the  majority  of  whom  was  both 
vigorous  and  valiant.  But  while  the  banditti  were 
marching  with  high  contempt  of  the  inferiority  of  their 
pursuers,  a  second  brigade  of  the  holy  brotherhood 
having  skirted  the  wood  on  the  other  side,  closed  on 
their  rear,  and  placed  them  between  two  fires  ;  and 
the  robbers,  finding  themselves  thus  situated,  lost  all 
hope  of  victory,  and  endeavoured  to  seek  safety  by  a 
precipitate  flight.  The  consternation  was  so  great, 
that,  without  reflecting  on  the  consequences,  I  fol- 
lowed the  fugitives  with  as  much  alacrity  as  if  I  had 
had  no  occasion  to  rejoice  in  being  thus  delivered 
from  their  power.  The  two  brigades  pursued  us  so 
closely  that  we  were  almost  entirely  taken  prisoners  ; 
and  the  conquerors  tying  us  together  with  cords  they 
had  brought  with  them  for  the  purpose,  divided  us 
into  two  companies,  one  of  which  was  driven  to  Avila, 
and  the  other  to  Segovia.  It  may  be  necessary  to 
inform  the  reader  that  the  magistrates  of  these  cities, 
having  been  informed  that  a  daring  banditti  infested 
the  neighbouring  country  with  impunity,  had  each  of 
them  despatched  a  brigade  of  archers  of  the  holy 
fraternity  to  apprehend  them  ;  and  so  well  was  the 
measure  concerted  that  each  of  them  arrived  at  the 
wood  at  the  same  time. 

I  was  among  those  who  were  sent  to  Avila,  where 
on  our  arrival  we  were  immediately  secured  in  dark 
and  dismal  dungeons,  to  await  the  approach  of  inex- 
orable and  speedy  justice.  The  Corregidor,  an  expe- 
ditious judge,  came  to  the  prison  on  the  following 
day  to  take  our  examinations,  and  my  lucky  stars 
directed  him  to  begin  with  me.  Struck  with  the 
appearance  of  my  youth — 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  65 

"  Unhappy  young  man,"  said  he,  "you  have  begun 
the  career  of  vice  at  a  very  early  age  indeed." 

"  Sir,"  replied  I  calmly.  "  it  is  not  the  cowl  that 
creates  the  monk.  It  is  true  I  wear  the  garb  of  a 
robber ;  but  I  assure  you  most  solemnly  I  do  not 
belong  to  the  gang." 

"  Where  is  the  next  ?"  said  the  Corregidor,  without 
deigning  to  hear  my  defence. 

Turning  to  the  other  prisoners  who  were  confined 
in  the  dungeon  with  me,  he  inquired  whether  they 
were  among  the  troop  who  were  apprehended  in  the 
wood  by  the  holy  brethren  ;  and  they,  rightly  con- 
ceiving that  it  would  be  of  no  service  to  assert  the 
contrary,  answered  in  the  affirmative.  On  receiving 
this  answer  the  magistrate  closed  his  inquiries,  and 
ordered  the  notary  who  accompanied  him  to  write 
down  our  names,  assuring  us  as  he  quitted  the  prison 
that  we  should  not  languish  long  in  confinement,  for 
that  in  two  hours  at  most  we  should  learn  our  fate. 
Perceiving  that  this  minister  of  justice  intended  to 
pronounce  me  guilty,  I  called  upon  him  loudly  to 
hear  me. 

"  Take  care,  sir,  I  beseech  you,  what  you  do.  Do  not 
confound  the  innocent  with  the  guilty.  So  far  from 
being  one  of  this  gang  of  robbers,  I  declare  to  you 
that  I  am  myself  the  victim  of  their  depredations ; 
they  robbed  me  of  my  money  and  my  mule  ;  forcibly 
took  off  my  clothes  ;  and,  in  spite  of  all  resistance, 
obliged  me  to  put  on  the  dress  I  now  wear." 

The  Corregidor  seemed  to  pay7  very  little  attention 
to  this  address,  and  in  about  an  hour  afterwards  the 
Register  returned  to  the  prison. 

"  Where  is  Vanillo  Gonzales?  "  said  he,  with  gaiety, 

as  he  entered  the  dungeon. 

E 


66  THE  HISTORY  OF 

"Here!"  exclaimed  I,  imagining  he  had  brought 
an  order  for  my  discharge;  "what  news  have  you  for 
him?" 

"  Very  good  news,"  replied  the  Register,  "  for  which 
I  shall  not  charge  him  anything,  any  more  than  for 
the  expenses  of  his  trial,  which  is  just  finished.  He 
is  condemned,"  added  this  sorry  jester,  "  to  die  upon 
the  scaffold,  and  make  retribution  with  his  feet  danc- 
ing in  the  air." 

The  tone  of  raillery,  and  the  easy  manner  in  which 
the  Register  communicated  this  sentence,  made  me 
conjecture  that  it  was  not  true;  but  the  words  he 
afterwards  used  to  the  companions  of  my  captivity 
left  me  no  longer  in  doubt  of  the  certainty  of  my  fate. 
My  affliction  knew  no  bounds.  I  vented  a  torrent  of 
tears,  and  made  the  dungeon  echo  to  my  cries  and 
lamentations. 

"  Why,"  said  I,  addressing  myself  to  the  robbers, 
"  wicked  as  you  are,  why  will  you  not  save  the  life  of 
a  man  you  know  to  be  innocent  ?  It  is  yet  in  your 
power,  by  solemnly  declaring  to  the  Corregidor  that  I 
was  not  one  of  the  gang.  What  advantage  will  you 
gain  by  suffering  me  to  perish  ?" 

I  hoped,  by  these  reproaches,  to  affect  the  feelings 
of  the  villains  I  addressed,  and  induce  them  to  bear 
witness  of  my  innocence;  but,  instead  of  doing  me 
this  justice,  they  burst  into  loud  laughter,  and  ridi- 
culed my  fears. 

The  Register,  who  was  present  during  this  scene, 
but  without  appearing  to  listen  to  what  I  said,  took 
me  by  the  hand,  and  leading  me  into  a  large  hall 
presented  me  to  a  monk  of  the  order  of  St.  Francis, 
who,  I  concluded,  had   not  come  there  to  do  nothing. 

"  Here,   holy  father,"  said  the   Register,  "you  may 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  67 

Lcrin  vour  work  with  this  youth  ;  induce  him  to  con- 
fess,  and  prepare  his  mind  for  an  approaching  journey 
to  the  other  world." 

Throwing  myself  at  the  feet  of  the  Cordelier,  I 
implored  his  protection  with  great  energy,  and  related 
to  him  with  fidelity  even-thing  that  had  passed  be- 
tween the  robbers  and  myself;  but  the  Register 
though  he  heard  this  account,  went  away  without 
uttering  a  syllable,  and  left  me  with  the  confessor, 
and  the  executioner  stanaing  by  his  side. 

"  My  friend,"  replied  the  Cordelier,  "  suppose  for  a 
moment  the  adventure  you  have  related  be  true,  it 
proves  to  my  mind  that  your  manifold  iniquities  have 
drawn  upon  you  the  wrath  of  Heaven  ;  for  divine 
justice  frequently  uses  human  tribunals  as  the  instru- 
ments to  punish  incorrigible  sinners.  Instead,  there- 
fore, of  murmuring  at  the  sentence  which  has  con- 
demned you  to  die,  and  which  seems  to  you  unjust, 
you  ou^ht  to  regard  it  as  the  means  bv  which  Heaven 
is  about  to  chastise  your  crimes.  Let  me  persuade 
you,  therefore,  to  employ  the  few  moments  you  have 
to  live  in  sincerely  confessing  your  sins,  and  implor- 
ing the  forgiveness  of  an  offended  Deity." 

The  eloquence  of  the  Cordelier,  great  as  it  was,  did 
not  induce  me  quietly  to  resign  myself  to  the  life  to 
come,  notwithstanding  the  holy  father  spared  no 
pains  to  procure  me  a  happy  exit,  and  exhorted  me 
in  the  most  pathetic  and  consolatory  manner,  mixing 
with  the  tears  which  the  idea  of  suffering  drew  from 
me,  those  which  he  shed  from  the  interest  he  took  in 
my  heavenly  welfare  ;  but  he  persisted  so  steadily, 
and  exerted  himself  in  such  a  variety  of  ways,  that 
he  at  length  accomplished  his  purpose,  and  I  felt  my 
mind  suddenly  touched  with  sincere  contrition  for  all 


68  THE  HISTORY  OF 

the  faults  I  had  committed.  My  spirit  groaned  with 
anguish  when  I  recollected  the  sums  I  had  purloined 
at  Murcia  and  Salamanca,  and,  nature  yielding  by 
degrees  to  the  awfulness  of  my  situation,  I  began  to 
think  I  had  merited  the  ignominious  punishment  I 
was  about  to  endure,  and  became  resigned  t©  my 
miserable  fate.  But  while  I  was  preparing  to  take 
my  departure  to  the  place  of  public  punishment, 
where  I  was  doomed  to  be  suspended  in  the  air,  the 
door  of  the  hall  suddenly  opened,  and  the  Corregidor, 
accompanied  by  the  Register,  and  one  of  the  Bohe- 
mian prisoners,  entered  the  room. 

"  Father,"  said  he  to  the  monk,  "discontinue  your 
exhortations  to  that  young  man  ;  he  has  suffered 
sufficiently  by  the  terrors  you  have  inspired.  Every 
individual  of  the  gang  in  which  he  was  taken  has  con- 
fessed that  he  was  not  a  member  of  the  confederation, 
although  he  wears  its  uniform.  It  is  not  just  that  his 
life  should  be  forfeited  for  being  involuntarily  among 
them,  a  circumstance  which  it  was  out  of  his  power 
to  prevent ;  but,  as  the  inhabitants  of  Avila  have 
made  a  grand  festival  with  an  intention  to  memorise 
the  execution  of  some  of  these  malefactors,  here  is 
one  of  them  whom  I  deliver  into  your  hands  to  satisfy 
their  expectations." 

The  Corregidor  having  spoken  these  words  left  the 
room,  and  ordered  me  to  follow  him,  which  I  most 
cheerfully  obeyed,  and  surrendered  my  place  to  the 
Bohemian,  who  was  one  of  the  two  men  that  had 
rifled  me  of  my  pistoles.  This  victim  to  justice  placed 
himself  on  his  knees  before  the  holy  father,  and,  after 
being  brought  to  a  confession  of  his  crimes,  was  led 
to  the  place  of  punishment ;  while  the  Corregidor 
conducted  me  into  an  adjoining  chamber^  where,  per- 


VANFLLO  GONZALES.  69 

ceiving  that  the  sudden  transition  from  despair  to  joy 
had  affected  my  senses,  he  ordered  the  attendants  to 
bring  me  some  wine,  and,  when  I  was  a  little  reco- 
vered, told  me  I  was  free. 

The  outer  doors  of  the  prison  were  accordingly  by 
his  orders  immediately  opened,  and  I  regained  my 
liberty,  but  not  without  the  loss  of  my  money,  my 
clothes,  and  my  mule,  which  had  passed  from  the 
possession  of  the  robbers  into  the  hands  of  the  officers 
of  justice. 


7o  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  CONSOLATION  WHICH  VANILLO  RECEIVED  ON  BEING 
RELEASED  FROM  PRISON,  AND  THE  HAPPIER  SITUA- 
TION IN  WHICH  HE  FOUND  HIMSELF  ON  HtS  ARRIVAL 
AT  MADRID. 

The  oddity  of  my  dress  exposed  me  to  the  derision 
of  the  populace  as  I  passed  aiong  the  street ;  but  my 
mind  was  too  deeply  impressed  by  ideas  of  my  happy 
escape  frorn  the  clutches  of  the  Bohemians  and  the 
Corregidor  to  be  sensible  of  their  mockery.  To  re- 
turn my  thanks  to  the  Almighty  for  the  deliverance 
He  had  vouchsafed  to  grant  me  I  entered  a  church, 
and,  retiring  to  an  obscure  corner,  kneeled  down  to 
pray.  A  sense  of  the  perils  I  had  escaped  rendered 
me  fervently  devout  ;  and,  promising  Heaven  to 
amend  my  course  of  life,  I  beat  my  breast  in  the 
ardour  of  contrition  with  pious  energy. 

I  had  no  idea  that  any  person  observed  me;  but 
an  old  citizen  of  Aviia,  whe>  was  counting  his  rosary 
at  a  little  distance  from  me,  received  at  length  so 
much  inspiration  from  my  fervour  that  he  determined 
to  speak  to  me  ;  and,  waiting  at  the  postal  of  the 
church,  joined  company  with  me  as  I  went  out. 

"  Young  man,"  said  he,  "  you  seem  to  be  a  stranger 
in  this  city;  and  if  I  may  venture  to  judge  by  ap- 
pearances, you  are  not  in  a  very  happy  situation." 

At  these  words,  which  drew  from  me  a  deep  sigh, 
I  cast  a  lcok  of  sorrow  on  the  old  man,  and,  being 
unable  to  answer  him,  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears. 
My  affliction  affected  him  deeply,  and  being  anxious 


VAN1LL0  GONZALES.  yt 

to  learn  the  cause  of  it,  "  My  child/'  continued  he, 
"you  seem  in  great  agitation^:  let  me  know  the  occa- 
sion of  it  ;  do  not  be  afraid  of  confiding  in  me  ;  I  love 
the  feelings  which  arise  from  a  sense  of  virtue  ;  you 
appear  to  be  a  good  man,  and  I  am  interested  for 
your  happiness." 

Revived  by  the  tenderness  of  this  address,  which 
seemed  to  offer  a  resource  to  my  misery,  "  Sir,"  re- 
plied I,  "  since,  without  knowing  who  I  am,  you  so 
kindly  interest  yourself  in  my  fate,  a  sense  of  grati- 
tude forbids  me  to  conceal  anything  from  you  ;  and 
when  I  shall  have  told  you  the  story  of  my  woes,  you 
will,  I  am  sure,  acknowledge  that  I  have  reason  to 
complain." 

I  accordingly  began  to  relate  to  him  the  cause  of 
my  distress,  by  which  he  seemed  much  affected  ;  and 
when  I  h&d  finished  my  story,  he  embraced  me  with 
great  warmth,  saying,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  that  he 
was  sensibly  touched  by  the  proof  which  Heaven  had 
made  of  my  virtue.  This  charitable  old  citizen,  per- 
ceiving that  I  had  no  asylum  but  the  poor-house, 
kinuly  carried  me  home  with  him,  gave  me  new 
clothes,  kept  me  as  his  inmate  for  eight  days,  and 
then,  on  finding  I  wished  to  reach  Madrid,  sent  me 
to  that  city  by  the  muleteers,  with  twenty  pistoles 
in  my  pocket,  and  a  letter  of  recommendation  to  a 
banker  of  his  acquaintance  named  Lezcano.  This 
seasonable  succour,  for  which  I  did  not  fail  to  return 
my  thanks  to  Providence,  afforded  me  great  consola- 
tion ;  and  the  sight  of  the  metropolis  obliterated  all 
recollection  of  my  late  disaster  with  the  Bohemians. 

My  first  care,  on  arriving  at  Madrid,  was  to  carry 
my  recommendatory  letter  to  the  banker,  who,  after 
reading  it  with  attention,  showed  me  every  civility, 


72  THE  HISTORY  OF 

and  promised  to  promote  my  interest  by  every  means 
in  his  power;  but  I  was  disappointed  that  he  neither 
offered  me  a  bed  in  his  house,  nor  board  at  his  table, 
which  I  acknowledge  I  expected.  Happily,  however, 
the  generosity  of  his  friend  had  enabled  me  to  sup- 
port for  some  time  the  expenses  of  the  hotel;  and 
I  hoped  in  a  short  time  to  meet  with  some  useful 
acquaintance. 

A  month  nearly  elapsed  in  visiting  the  several 
parts  of  this  beautiful  city,  and  in  seeing  all  the  curio- 
sities it  contains;  but  though  I  took  great  delight  in 
these  entertainments,  particularly  in  frequenting  the 
palaces,  and  in  observing  the  different  noblemen  who 
attended  the  royal  levee,  I  did  not  suffer  my  curiosity 
to  prevent  me  from  calling  almost  daily  on  Lezcano, 
that  he  might  keep  me  in  remembrance ;  and  he 
always  received  me  not  only  with  great  affability 
and  politeness,  but  continued  to  assure  me,  that  he 
would  not  neglect  my  interests.  "  Have  patience  a 
little  longer,"  said  he,  "and  I  will  place  you  in  a 
situation,  where  you  shall  swim  like  a  fish  in  the 
water."  Time,  however,  passed  rapidly  away,  and 
my  stock  of  pistoles  was  very  nearly  exhausted  ;  but 
instead  of  yielding  to  despair,  I  incessantly  repeated 
these  words  of  the  Licentiate  Salablanca,  "  Take  no 
thought  of  the  morrow."  I  had  indeed  received  too 
many  instances  of  the  kindness  of  Providence  to  dread 
the  future ;  and  I  experienced  in  a  short  time  that 
Providence  had  not  abandoned  me. 

The  next  visit  I  paid  to  the  banker — "Vanillo," 
said  he,  "  you  could  not  have  come  more  opportunely. 
I  was  going  to  send  information  to  you  that  I  have 
at  length  found  a  situation  such  as  I  promised  you. 
To-morrow  vou  will  be  admitted  into  the  service  of 


i  AN1LL0  GONZALES.  73. 

Don  Henry  of  Bologna,  a  perfect  gentleman,  middle- 
aged,  extremely  rich,  and  a  knight  of  the  order  of 
St.  James.  He  has,  it  is  true,  a  tincture  of  the  misan- 
thrope in  his  character;  but  his  sentiments  are  in 
general  just,  and  his  manners  affable.  The  good 
sense  and  spirit  you  possess  will  suit  his  temper 
exactly.  He  seldom  gives  any  entertainments,  and 
only  keeps  one  servant,  to  whom  he  gives  a  hundred 
crowns  a  year,  and  six  rials  a  day  for  board  wages. 
But,  beside  this,  he  is  extremely  generous.  After  a 
few  years'  servitude,  he  will  reward  your  fidelity  in 
a  way  which  will  make  you  very  well  contented  with 
his  liberality."  I  rendered  suitable  acknowledgments 
upon  this  occasion  to  Lezcano,  who  introduced  me 
the  ensuing-  morning  to  Don  Henrv. 

The  knisrht,  who  was  about  fortv  vears  of  acre, 
of  an  open  countenance,  and  a  person  finely  made, 
possessed  a  noble  mansion,  of  which  he  only  occupied 
one  apartment,  which  was  very  elegantly  furnished. 
On  being  introduced,  he  fixed  his  eyes  upon  me 
with  great  attention,  saying  to  my  conductor,  "  The 
appearance  of  this  youth  agrees  extremely  weli  with 
the  character  you  gave  me  of  him  ;  but  if  it  had  not," 
added  he,  "  I  should  not  have  hesitated  to  receive 
him  implicitly  upon  your  recommendation." 


74  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER  X. 

VANILLO  GAINS  THE  FRIENDSHIP  OF  DON  HENRY,  WHO 
SHOWS  HIM  A  SECRET  REGISTER  WHICH  HE  KEPT  IN 
HIS  STUDY. 

Don  Henry  of  Bologna,  my  fourth  master,  devoted 
the  morning-  to  study,  and  went  at  noon  into  the 
city  to  dinner,  from  whence  he  seldom  returned  until 
ten  or  eleven  o'clock  at  night ;  so  that  my  place  was 
very  nearly  a  sinecure  ;  for,  as  the  brushing  of  his 
clothes,  and  keeping  his  study  in  order,  were  my  sole 
employments,  and  all  he  expected  from  me,  I  had 
of  course  the  whole  afternoon  to  myself,  either  to 
walk  about,  to  make  acquaintances,  or  divert  my- 
self in  any  other  way.  I  took  great  care,  however} 
to  be  at  home  in  the  evening  before  he  returned  ; 
and,  as  he  always  found  me  ready  to  wait  on  him, 
he  was  extremely  well  satisfied  with  my  conduct. 
His  actions  indeed  were  exoressive  of  his  content,  for 
he  condescended  to  converse  with  me  in  the  most 
familiar  way  ;  and  as  I  generally  afforded  him  some 
entertainment  by  the  recital  which  he  obliged  me  to 
make  of  my  observations  during  the  course  of  the 
day,  his  familiarity  improved  by  degrees  into  a  cordial 
friendship. 

Among  the  books  which  generally  engaged  his 
attention,  I  observed  a  large  volume,  the  leaves  of 
which  he  turned  over  and  over  every  evening,  and, 
after  writing  several  lines  and  effacing  others  in  it, 
before  he  retired  to  rest,  locked  it  up  until  the  same 
hour  on  the  succeeding  evening.     Feeling  a  great 


VANILLO  GUN Z A  LBS.  7S 

desire  to  knew  what  this  book  contained,  my  curiosity 
became  at  last  so  eager,  that  I  ventured  to  ask  Don 
Henry  what  it  was  that  he  so  regularly  inspected,  and 
affected  to  preserve  with  so  much  secrecy  and  care. 

Far  from  being  offended  at  the  liberty  of  this 
inquiry,  he  smiled  and  replied,  "  I  can  easily  excuse 
the  curiosity  you  feel  to  learn  the  contents  of  that 
mysterious  volume,  and  I  have,  no  objection  to  gratify 
it.  It  is  a  manuscript  of  my  own  writing,"  continued 
he,  "which,  for  my  own  private  satisfaction,  I  have 
for  these  last  ten  years  taken  the  pains  to  compose." 

Immediately  opening  the  book-case,  and  reaching 
down  the  volume,  he  put  it  into  my  hands.  "  There, 
Vanillo,"  continued  he,  "in  that  volume  you  will  dis- 
cover the  catalogue  of  all  my  friends ;  and,  large  as 
it  is,  it  contains  only  their  names  and  the  times  when 
our  acquaintance  commenced." 

"O  heavens!"  exclaimed  I,  "is  it  possible,  sir,  that 
you  have  the  happiness  to  possess  such  a  number  of 
friends  ?  But  what  is  this  that  I  perceive  ?''  added  I, 
on  opening  the  volume.  "AH  these  names  are  erased 
and  obliterated.     What  is  the  meaning  of  this  ?" 

"  I  will  explain  its  meaning  to  you,"  replied  my 
patron.  "Your  surprise  is  just.  Know,  then,  that 
I  inserted  all  those  names  at  the  times  when  I 
thought  myself  beloved  by  the  persons  to  whom 
they  belong,  and  effaced  them  the  moment  I  found 
myself  deceived." 

"Is  it  credible,"  said  I,  "that  you  can  have  been 
deceived  so  frequently?  The  proofs  you  required  of 
their  attachment  were  probably  too  severe." 

"Not  at  all,"  replied  Don  Henry.  "All  these  false 
friends  unmasked  themselves  in  the  course  of  our 
acquaintance.     One,  after  having  dazzled  me  by  the 


76  THE  HISTORY  OF 

warmest  professions  of  affection,  convinced  me  soon 
afterwards  that  he  only  possessed  the  exterior  ap- 
pearances of  friendship,  and  that  inwardly  his  mind 
was  incapable  of  feeling  so  refined  a  sentiment. 
Another  I  discovered  sought  my  friendship  only  with 
a  view  to  strengthen  his  interest  in  obtaining  a  pro- 
motion he  was  then  soliciting:  a  third  endeavoured 
to  rival  me  in  the  affection  of  my  mistress ;  and  that 
man,"  said  he,  pointing  to  a  name  no  longer  legible, 
"  used  every  effort,  notwithstanding  our  intimacy,  to 
seduce  the  virtue  of  my  sister.  In  short,  I  no  longer 
acknowledge  among  my  friends  all  those  whose  names 
you  observe  are  now  defaced,  and  which  I  originally 
enrolled  upon  the  credit  of  their  perfidious  demon- 
strations of  friendship." 

My  eyes  ran  with  eager  curiosity  over  every 
page  of  this  register,  and  observing  that  every  name, 
except  five  or  six  on  the  last  page,  was  entirely 
obliterated,  I  said  to  my  master,  "In  truth,  sir,  the 
astonishment  I  felt  at  your  having  so  many  friends, 
is  now  increased  by  perceiving  you  have  so  few." 

''In  the  course  of  a  few  days,"  replied  he,  "  most 
lilccly  there  will  not  be  one  left :  for  those  which  still 
remai  l  owe  their  distinction  to  the  recency  of  our 
acquaintance,  rather  than  to  any  proofs  they  have 
afforded  me  of  their  sincerity." 

'■'  What  unpleasant  reflections,"  said  I,  "take  pos- 
session of  my  mind  on  this  subject!  I  am  tempted 
to  think  that  the  world  is  incapable  of  affording  a 
true  friend." 

"  No,"  replied  Don  Henry,  "true  friends  certain!}' 
exist,  but  I  am  afraid  they  are  rarely  found  ;  and 
there  are  thousands  of  men  who  fondly  fancy  they 
have  a  large  number,  when  in   fact   they  have   not, 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  77 

perhaps,  one.  I  enrolled  upon  my  register,"  con- 
tinued he,  "  all  my  relations,  Considering  them  at 
least  as  my  fixed  and  undoubted  friends;  but,  you 
will  perhaps  scarcely  credit  the  fact,  I  have  been 
obliged  to  erase  their  names;  for,  of  all  my  relations, 
my  father  alone  continues  his  attachment,  notwith- 
standing all  the  mortification  my  misconduct  has 
given  him." 

Three  or  four  davs  after  this  conversation,  my 
master,  on  his  return  from  the  city,  said  to  me, 
"Vanillo,  bring  me  the  register  of  friendship:  I 
must  erase  two  names  from  the  record.  I  will  dash 
from  my  remembrance  an  auditor  of  the  council  of 
Castile,  and  a  knight  of  Alcantara ;  but  before  I 
proceed  in  this  resolution,  I  wish  to  have  your  advice 
upon  the  subject.  These  two  gentlemen  were,  the 
day  before  yesterday,  in  a  mixed  society,  where  a 
variety  of  calumnies  were  cast  upon  my  character. 
The  auditor  silently  listened  to  the  slander,  without 
attempting  to  contradict  it,  and  the  knight  encouraged 
it  by  his  applause — What  is  your  opinion  of  such 
friends  ? " 

"  I  think,  sir,"  said  I,  "that  the  name  of  the  auditor 
ought  to  be  erased,  and  that  of  the  knight  blotted 
from  the  register." 

"  I  am  of  the  same  opinion,"  said  Don  Henry  ;  "  and 
in  expunging  such  names,  I  shall  not  be  suspected  of 
doing  it  from  notions  of  friendship  too  delicate  and 
refined.' 

"I  have  not  the  honour  to  know,"  said  I,  "the 
persons  whose  names  still  remain  on  the  list ;  but  I 
conjecture,  that  sooner  or  later  they  also  will  be 
expunged,  since  in  a  space  of  four  or  five  hundred 
pages  not  one  remains." 


78  THE  HISTORY  OF 

"You  are  mistaken,"  replied  Don  Henry,  "you  have 
not  examined  the  pages  with  sufficient  care,  there 
are  three  names  in  the  third  page  still  uneffaced,  and 
in  all  probability  will  ever  be.  The  first  is  the  name 
of  an  old  gentleman  whom  I  have  known  for  a  period 
of  thirty  years;  I.  passed  the  days  of  study  with  him 
in  my  youth  ;  the  one  has  no  secret  which  the  other 
does  not  know  ;  his  interests  are  mine ;  and  we  feel 
a  mutual  anxiety  for  each  other's  happiness  and 
concerns.  I  can  command  his  purse  as  if  the  strings 
were  mine,  and  he  has  an  equal  control  over  what- 
ever 1  possess.  In  short,  we  are  linked  to  each  other 
by  the  closest  ties  of  friendship,  without  the  danger 
of  diminishing  its  force  by  our  daily  intercourse. 
The  second  is  the  name  of  a  German  officer,  who 
attended  me  to  the  field  in  an  affair  of  honour,  and 
who  lias  more  than  once  exposed  his  life  to  danger 
for  my  sake.  The  third  is  the  name  of  a  noble- 
minded  man  to  whom  I  have  long  owed  a  large  sum 
of  money,  without  his  having  ever  hinted  at  security, 
or  requested  repayment." 

In  looking  at  the  names  of  these  friends  I  per- 
ceived another  that  was  not  effaced  ;  but  my  patron 
pointed  out  a  mark  at  the  bottom  of  it  which  was 
scarcely  perceptible.  "  Permit  me,  sir,"  said  I,  "  to 
inquire  why  this  name  is  only  half  erased  ;  there  must 
be  some  secret  reason  for  it.  The  friendship  of  this 
man  was  perhaps  equivocal ;  and  in  the  uncertainty 
you  entertained  of  his  real  sentiments,  you  was 
doubtful  whether  he  oucrht  to  be  in  or  out  of  this 
register." 

"  No,  no,"  replied  Don  Henry,  "  I  am  completely 
satisfied  with  respect  to  his  character.  He  is  an  old 
Galician  licentiate,  who  left  his  country  at  a  very  early 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  79 

age  to  seek  his  fortune  at  Madrid.  I  knew  him  at  a 
time  when  he  scarcely  knew  how  to  subsist.  We 
were  then  intimate  friends,  and  the  pleasantest 
moments  of  our  lives  were  passed  in  each  other's 
company.  But  of  late  years  he  has  been  an  active 
agent  to  the  crown,  and  is  at  present  in  great  opu- 
lence. He  avoids  all  those  who  knew  him  before 
his  prosperity,  and,  in  all  probability,  we  shall  never 
see  each  other  again." 

Deplorable  effect  of  worldly  wealth  !  Philoso- 
phers have  well  observed,  that  if  we  wish  to  preserve 
a  friend,  we  ought  constantly  to  pray  lo  God  that  he 
may  never  become  rich. 


8o  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER  XI. 

VANILLO  GOES  INTO   THE   SERVICE  OF  ANOTHER  MASTER  ; 
AND  BECOMES  A   PAGE    TO   THE  DUKE   OF  OSSUNA. 

I  FORESAW  to  a  moral  certainty  that  the  few  names 
which  still  remained  in  the  register  of  friendship 
would  be  obliterated  ;  an  event  which  took  place  in 
less  than  a  month.  "  The  work  is  finished,"  said 
Don  Henry,  as  he  drew  the  pen  across  the  last 
recorded  name,  "  I  will  no  longer  continue  this 
register.  I  only  blot  out  one  day  what  I  had 
written  the  day  before.  It  is  like  the  toil  of  the 
Danaides." 

"You  are  right,  sir,"  said  I,  "and  I  should  now 
advise  you  to  make  the  same  trial  with  respect  to 
love,  as  you  have  made  respecting  friendship,  and 
see  whether  you  find  your  mistresses  more  faithful 
than  your  friends." 

"  O  heavens  !  "  exclaimed  he,  bursting  into  a  fit  of 
laughter,  "  I  should  profit  greatly  by  the  exchange. 
No,  my  friend,  if  you  had  had  my  experience  of 
the  sex,  you  would  not  have  thought  this  proof 
necessary." 

"  Good,"  replied  I,  laughing  in  my  turn,  "  you 
imagine  then  that  I  am  entirely  ignorant  of  the 
baseless  foundation  of  female  friendship :  alas ! 
young  as  I  am,  I  know  the  sex  but  too  well.  The 
knowledge,  it  is  true,  cost  me  a  few  pistoles;  but 
this  is  a  science  not  to  be  acquired  without  expense." 

Don    Henry  seemed    astonished    at    my   observa- 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  81 

tions.  "  How,  Vanillo,"  interrupted  he,  "  you  ap- 
pear well  informed  for  your  years.  Pray  tell  me 
by  what  means  you  gained  this  extraordinary  know- 
ledge of  the  sex."  I  accordingly  related  to  him  the 
history  of  my  acquaintance  with  Bernardina,  which 
afforded  him  infinite  diversion.  But  soon  after,  as- 
suming a  serious  countenance,  he  strongly  admo- 
nished me  to  avoid  with  anxious  care  every  tender 
attachment.  "I  have  also,"  added  he,  "  made  sacri- 
fices upon  the  altar  of  love,  and  I  have  been  a  greater 
victim  than  yourself;  but  I  am  now  so  much  upon 
my  guard,  that  I  can  gaze  upon  the  most  dangerous 
beauties  with  impunity ;  a  proof  that  man  need 
never  become  the  slave  of  woman  if  he  chooses  to 
avoid  it." 

Don  Henry,  although  he  was  now  satisfied  that 
the  men  on  whom  he  had  bestowed  his  friendship 
were  incapable  of  returning  it,  continued  to  mix  in 
their  company  with  the  same  seeming  pleasure  as  if 
they  had  been  real  friends;  he  dining  occasionally 
with  them,  and  they  more  frequently  dining  or  sup- 
ping with  him. 

Among  those  who  most  frequently  visited  him 
was  a  gentleman  named  Joseph  Quivillo,  a  man  of 
considerable  merit  in  the  service  of  the  Duke  of 
Ossuna:  Quivillo  seemed  to  take  great  pleasure  in 
conversing  with  me,  which  I  indulged  the  more  wil- 
lingly, as  my  master,  far  from  finding  it  disagreeable 
to  him,  would  frequently  draw  me  into  these  dis- 
courses for  the  entertainment  of  the  company. 

One  evening,  among  others,  a  number  of  little 
sallies  escaped  me,  with  which  the  guests  were  so 
well  pleased,  that  they  paid  me  the  highest  com- 
pliments.    Each  of  them  resounded  my  praise,  but 

F 


82  THE  HISTORY  OF 

particularly  Quivillo,  who  at  length  observed  that  I 
should  prove  a  very  valuable  present  to  the  Duke  of 
Ossuna.  "  That  nobleman,"  continued  he,  "  is  fond 
of  lively  characters,  and  would  be  overjoyed  to 
number  among  his  pages  a  young  man  of  Vanillo's 
merit."  Don  Henry,  immediately  addressing  him- 
self to  Quivillo,  said,  "  Whatever  affection  I  may 
feel  for  Vanillo,  I  consent  that  you  shall  take  him 
from  me,  on  condition  of  his  being  numbered  among 
the  pages  of  the  Duke." 

"That  being  the  case,"  replied  Quivillo,  "only 
let  him  meet  me  to-morrow  morning  at  the  Duke's 
house,  and  I  will  undertake  the  rest." 

Although  I  felt  a  great  pleasure  at  the  prospect 
of  being  a  page  to  so  great  a  man,  I  was  suf- 
ficiently politic  not  only  to  conceal  my  joy,  but  to 
affect  so  great  an  indifference  upon  the  subject,  that 
Don  Henry  asked  me,  if  I  had  any  objection  to  the 
proposed  promotion.  I  coldly  answered,  that  I  had 
not,  but  that  my  attachment  to  him  would  not 
permit  me  to  quit  his  service  without  regret.  The 
guests  universally  applauded  my  answer,  and  gave 
me  credit  for  my  honest  attachment ;  and  my 
master,  as  well  as  his  companions,  was  the  dupe  of 
my  affectation.  "  Vanillo,"  said  he,  "  I  $hould  feel 
that  I  abused  the  sincerity  of  your  zeal,  if  I  were  to 
prevent  you  from  entering  into  the  service  of  the 
Duke  of  Ossuna,  who,  I  am  sure,  will  soon  enable 
you  to  make  a  brilliant  fortune." 

"  I  am  not  yet  in  his  service,  sir,"  replied  I ;  "  who 
can  tell?  perhaps  I  may  not  have  the  happiness  to 
please  him  ; "  and,  in  fact,  this  was  the  only  danger 
of  which  I  was  apprehensive;  for,  notwithstanding 
my    liveliness   and    sagacity,   I    doubted    whether   I 


VANILLO  G ON Z ALUS.  83 

should  be  found  of  sufficient  ability  to  fill  the  station 
they  designed  for  me. 

The  ensuing  morning  I  went,  by  the  permission 
of  Don  Henry,  to  the  mansion  of  the  Duke,  where 
I  met  Quivillo,  who  had  been  waiting  for  me  with 
ail  the  impatience  of  a  man  eager  to  communicate 
agreeable  news.  "Vanillo,"  said  he,  "you  are  upon 
the  Duke's  establishment.  From  the  description  I 
have  given  him  of  your  character,  he  has  appointed 
you  one  of  his  pages,  and  has  authorised  me  to 
provide  you  the  livery."  Don  Joseph  accordingly 
conducted  me  to  the  major-domo,  who  immediately 
sent  for  the  tailor  to  measure  me,  and  in  two  days  I 
was  properly  equipped  to  appear  in  the  presence  of 
my  noble  employer. 

"  My  friend,"  said  the  Duke,  on  my  entering  the 
room,  "  do  you  think  you  will  be  able  to  discharge 
the  duties  of  a  page  ?" 

"  Why  not,  my  lord  ?  "  replied  I.  <(  I  have  hitherto 
eiven  satisfaction  in  the  character  of  valet,  and  it 
does  not  seem  to  me  that  the  one  is  a  more  difficult 
office  than  the  other." 

"  You  are  right,"  replied  he,  smiling,  and  turning 
to  Quivillo  ;  "  I  have  a  good  opinion  of  this  youth," 
added  he  ;  "I  do  not  think  he  will  prove  the  most 
stupid  page  in  this  house." 

Three  or  four  Sicilian  noblemen  entering  the  room 
at  this  instant,  and  preventing  further  conversation 
with  the  Duke,  I  retired  to  join  the  number  of  my 
new  companions. 


84  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE  DUKE  OF  OSS  UNA  JS  APPOINTED  VICEROY  OF  SICILY; 
HE  DEPARTS  FROM  MADRID  TO  EMBARK  AT  THE  PORT 
OF  BARCELONA,  FROM  WHENCE  HE  PROCEEDS  TO  GENOA, 
AND  FROM  THENCE  TO  NAPLES. 

The  Duke  of  Ossuna  had  recently  returned  from 
Flanders,  where  he  had  rendered  important  ser- 
vices to  the  state.  The  King  had  appointed  him 
gentleman  of  the  chamber,  and  one  of  the  four 
members  of  the  council  for  Portugal.  But  these 
promotions  were  far  from  satisfying  his  ambition. 
He  secretly  sighed  for  the  government  of  Sicily, 
which  was  on  the  point  of  becoming  vacant  by  the 
return  of  the  Duke  of  Thaurisano,  the  then  governor, 
the  time  of  his  appointment  being  nearly  expired. 

There  were  two  reasons  which  induced  the  Duke 
of  Ossuna  to  aspire  to  this  viceroyship ;  the  one  was, 
that  the  appointment  gave  him  a  great  opportunity 
of  carrying  into  execution  his  enterprises  against  the 
Turks,  and  the  other  was  a  certainty  of  succeeding 
to  the  government  of  Naples;  and  his  solicitations 
upon  this  subject  were  at  length  successful ;  for  the 
Duke  of  Uzeda,  the  favourite  of  Philip  III.,  being 
his  friend,  he  was  appointed,  in  preference  to  all  his 
rival  candidates,  to  this  important  post,  which  he 
was  certainly  better  calculated  to  fill  than  any  other 
that  could  have  been  selected.  The  Duke,  upon  a 
remonstrance  which  he  made  to  the  Council  of 
State,  was  enabled  by  an  appropriation  of  a  stated 
portion  of  the  revenues  of  the  island  to  keep  a  large 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  85 

fleet  continually  equipped  in  the  ports  of  Sicily,  for 
the  purpose  of  annoying  the  Turkish  trade,  and  was 
entrusted  with  other  very  extensive  powers  for  car- 
rying his  designs  into  execution. 

Having  received  his  commission,  and  made  the 
proper  preparations  for  his  departure,  he  deter- 
mined to  proceed  to  Barcelona  with  Prince  Philibert 
of  Savoy,  who  had  been  lately  appointed  High- 
Admiral  of  Spain,  and  who  had  received  orders  to 
convey  him  to  Sicily;  but  as  the  great  numbers  of 
which  their  respective  suites  were  composed,  could 
not  have  been  accommodated  on  a  road  where  there 
were  but  few  inns,  not  very  plentifully  supplied 
with  provisions,  the  party  was  divided,  and  while 
the  Prince,  the  Duke  and  Duchess,  Don  Juan  Telles, 
their  son,  and  five-and-twenty  domestics,  proceeded 
by  land  to  Barcelona,  the  rest  of  the  train,  with  all 
the  baggage,  reached  the  neighbouring  port  of 
Alicant,  and  there  embarked  to  join  them.  I  was 
among  the  number  that  was  not  with  the  Duke. 

Going  out  of  the  Gulf  of  Alicant,  we  were  closely 
chased  and  attacked  by  a  Barbary  corsair,  and  I  felt 
my  portion  of  fear  for  our  safety  ;  for  the  enemy  was 
greatly  superior  to  us  in  strength.  Having  made  a 
vigorous  resistance  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  an 
hour,  the  corsair  at  last  boarded  us  and  put  us  in 
chains.  To  men  who  were  proceeding  in  a  sort  of 
triumph  to  Barcelona,  with  the  fairest  prospects  ot 
acquiring  immense  riches  in  Sicily,  such  a  capture 
was  a  severe  misfortune  ;  it  extinguished  at  once  in 
my  mind  all  the  gay  and  flattering  hopes  I  had  for 
some  time  fondly  indulged. 

But  as  the  corsairs  were  proceeding  with  their  rich 
prize  towards  the  coast  of  Barbary,  insulting  our  dis- 


86  THE  HISTORY  OF 

tress,  and  deriding  the  weakness  of  our  opposition, 
the)'  were,  in  the  latitude  of  Carthagena,  in  their  turn 
captured  by  Don  Antonio  de  Terracuso,  who  was 
conducting  a  squadron  of  six  Spanish  frigates  from 
Cadiz  to  Barcelona  for  the  purpose  of  conveying  the 
Prince  and  Viceroy  to  Sicily.  The  victorious  Terra- 
cuso carried  us,  together  with  two  galliots  filled  with 
slaves  and  booty  which  he  had  taken  with  the  pirates 
to  the  port  of  Barcelona,  where,  after  continuing  a  few 
days,  we  re-embarked,  and  proceeded  to  Genoa,  from 
whence  Prince  Philibert  departed  to  Turin  on  a  visit 
to  his  father,  the  Duke  of  Savoy,  who  was  waiting 
there  in  expectation  of  his  arrival. 

During  our  stay  at  Genoa,  the  Genoese  nobility, 
who  possessed  estates  in  the  island  of  Sxily,  paid  the 
highest  testimonies  of  respect  to  the  Duke.  He  also 
received  presents  to  a  very  considerable  amount,  not 
©nly  from  the  senate,  but  from  the  merchants  who 
traded  to  the  island.  The  Count  de  Lemnos,  Viceroy 
of  Naples,  also  despatched  two  messengers  to  request 
that  the  Duke  would  take  that  city  in  his  route,  not 
only  to  enjoy  for  a  few  days  its  charming  pleasures, 
but  to  afford  him  an  opportunity  of  consulting  per- 
sonally on  the  common  interests  of  the  two  kingdoms. 
The  Duke,  who  really  wished  for  this  interview,  im- 
mediately accepted  the  invitation.  We  accordingly 
put  to  sea  soon  afterwards,  and  coasting  along  the 
ecclesiastical  shores  of  Italy,  happily  arrived  in  the 
port  of  Naples. 

The  Count  de  Lemnos  gave  the  Duke  and  the 
Duchess,  to  whom  he  was  related,  a  most  magnificent 
reception.  An  apartment  in  the  royal  palace  was 
prepared  to  receive  them,  and  every  day  presented 
them   with    new    entertainments:   there  was   a   con- 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  87 

tinued  succession  of  feasts,  balls,  and  concerts  during 
our  residence  at  Naples.  The  nobility  and  gentry, 
seconding  the  inclination  of  the  Viceroy,  spared 
neither  time  nor  expense  to  certify  to  the  Duke 
the  satisfaction  his  presence  afforded  them  ;  although 
they  might  have  recollected  the  rigorous  administra- 
tion of  Don  Pedro  Guion,  the  Duke's  grandfather, 
who  was  formerly  their  Viceroy. 

Engaged,  however,  as  the  Duke  appeared  to  be  in 
the  pleasures  which  the  Neapolitans  afforded  him,  he 
did  not  forget  to  hold  many  private  conferences  with 
the  Count,  and  to  draw  from  him  a  fund  of  information 
which  was  extremely  useful  to  him  afterwards.  At 
length  we  were  obliged  to  bid  adieu  to  Naples  ;  and 
the  Sicilian  navy  being  at  that  time  employed  in  con- 
ducting the  Duke  de  Thaurisano,  who  had  embarked 
for  Spain  without  waiting  the  arrival  of  his  succes- 
sor, we  were  conveyed  to  Palermo  by  a  Neapolitan 
convoy. 


88  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE  DUKE  OF  OSS  UNA  ARRIVES  IN  SICILY — HIS  ENTRY 
INTO  PALERMO,  AND  THE  FjRST  PROCEEDINGS  OF  HJS 
A  DMINISTRA  TION. 


THE  Duke,  on  his  arrival  at  Palermo,  wishing  to 
make  his  public  entry  with  less  pomp  than  diligence, 
continued  only  three  days  incognito;  and  the  ensuing 
morning,  entered  the  great  Seagate  of  the  city  mounted 
on  a  horse  finely  caparisoned  and  surrounded  by  the 
principal  nobility  and  gentry.  He  was  preceded  and 
followed  by  pages  and  staff-officers,  who  dazzled  the 
spectators  by  the  brilliancy  of  their  rich  and  superb 
liveries  which  had  been  provided  at  Genoa  for  this 
purpose.  The  Duchess  followed  in  a  magnificent 
coach,  drawn  by  six  horses,  escorted  by  a  body  of 
guards,  and  followed  by  a  string  of  carriages  and 
horsemen  which  reached  from  one  end  of  the  city 
to  the  other.  During  the  procession  pieces  of  money 
were  thrown  among  the  populace,  and  nothing  was 
seen  for  three  days  but  public  rejoicing. 

At  this  period  the  most  uncontrolled  licentiousness 
reigned  throughout  Sicily.  Every  person  followed 
the  dictates  of  inclination  alone,  with  no  fear  of 
punishment  either  from  God  or  man.  The  magis- 
trates, instead  of  punishing  the  guilty,  so  badiy 
discharged  their  duties  that  every  species  of  outrage 
was  committed  with  impunity,  and  nothing  was  heard 
of  but  robbery  and  murder;  which,  according  to  the 
manners  of  the  country,  was  generally  effected  by 
secret  assassination. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  89 

The  new  Viceroy,  to  stop  the  farther  progress  of 
these  disorders,  and  restore  tranquillity  to  civil  society. 
issued  a  proclamation,  which  was  posted  up  at  the 
corner  of  every  street,  importing,  in  substance,  that 
his  Catholic  Majesty,  informed  of  the  violences  which 
prevailed  throughout  the  kingdom  in  contempt  of  all 
law,  was  anxious  to  restore  peace  and  good  govern- 
ment ;  that  for  this  purpose  he  had  suppressed  the 
privilege  of  sanctuary  to  offenders  who  frequently 
availed  themselves  thereof,  though  they  had  been 
guilty  of  crimes  that  deserved  death;  that,  in  de- 
priving the  churches  of  this  privilege,  he  had  a  right 
to  expect  that  the  Sicilian  barons  and  other  noble- 
men who  had  heretofore  protected  malefactors,  would 
cease  any  longer  to  protect  them,  and  especially 
refuse  to  conceal  them  in  their  houses  or  screen  them 
from  the  rigour  of  the  laws ;  and  that  his  said  Catholic 
Majesty  had  invested  Don  Pedro  Guion,  third  Duke 
of  Ossuna,  second  Marquis  of  Pennafiel,  seventh  Count 
of  Uremia,  Gentleman  of  the  Chamber,  Knight  of  the 
Golden  Fleece,  Viceroy  and  Captain-General  of  Sicily, 
with  special  powers  to  examine  into  and  reform  all 
matters,  as  well  civil  as  criminal,  and  whether  ad- 
judged or  not  adjudged  under  the  two  former  govern- 
ments. I  ought  not  to  forget  that  by  this  edict  it 
was  also  declared,  that  all  persons  who  discovered  to 
the  Viceroy  crimes  committed  in  secret  which  could 
not  be  legally  proved,  although  the  authors  of  them 
were  well  known,  mig*ht  be  assured  that  their  dis- 
coveries should  not  be  revealed,  and  that  they  should 
be  amply  rewarded  either  from  the  forfeited  property 
of  the  convicts  or  the  coffers  of  the  king;  but  that, 
on  the  contrary,  if  any  person  neglected  to  discover 
any  offence  which  he  might  know  to  have  been  com- 


90  THE  HISTORY  OF 

mitted,  he  should  suffer  the  severest  punishment; 
and  that  informers  who  made  known  the  delinquency 
of  magistrates,  whether  judges  or  governors  of  towns, 
should  be  doubly  rewarded.  The  Duke  also  forbade 
all  persons  from  carrying  short  daggers,  stillettos, 
pocket  pistols,  or  cutlasses  ;  and  the  proclamation 
concluded  by  exhorting  all  persons  guilty  of  offences 
to  surrender  themselves  prisoners  within  a  certain 
time,  and  to  merit,  by  an  open  confession,  either  an 
entire  pardon  or  a  partial  remission  of  the  punishment 
inflicted  by  the  laws;  or  otherwise  they  were  to  be 
proceeded  against  with  the  utmost  rigour,  and  every 
means  taken  to  apprehend  their  persons. 

This  proclamation  produced  great  consternation  in 
Palermo  as  well  as  in  the  other  cities  of  the  kingdom 
to  which  it  was  sent.  All  persons  of  wealth  and 
virtue  were  well  pleased  with  this  spirited  measure; 
and  criminals,  together  with  the  nobles  who  gave 
them  protection,  were  the  only  persons  afflicted. 
The  Duke,  who  rightly  judged  that  the  guilty  would 
not  quit  their  retreats  to  surrender  themselves  into 
the  hands  of  justice,  adopted  such  prompt  and  vigor- 
ous measures  to  detect  and  draw  them  from  their 
asylums  that  in  less  than  three  months  every  prison 
in  the  island  was  filled.  Justly  conceiving  that  very 
salutary  effects  might  be  derived  by  severe  and  rigor- 
ous examples,  during  his  first  year  he  tried  and  be- 
headed two  noblemen  for  having  concealed  offenders; 
hanged  seven  robbers,  condemned  twelve  others  to 
the  galleys,  and  consigned  a  multitude  of  inferior 
offenders  to  other  punishments.  These  executions, 
which  were  all  performed  at  Palermo  in  one  day, 
where  no  execution  of  any  kind  had  been  known 
for  three  or  four  years  before,  spread  terror  and  con- 


VAN  I  LLC  GONZALnS.  91 

sternation  among  the  other  cities;  and  the  virtuous 
part  of  the  community,  feeling  their  good  effects, 
considered  the  Duke  as  an  angel  sent  from  heaven 
to  restore  happiness  to  Sicily. 

The  Viceroy,  having  given  these  proofs  of  his 
activity  and  courage,  immediately  departed  from 
Palermo  to  make  the  circuit  of  the  kingdom,  and 
to  trv  those  offenders  who  had  been  arrested  bv  his 
orders  in  the  several  provinces.  He  proceeded  first 
to  the  infant  city  of  Mont  Real,  and  from  thence  to 
Cefalu,  where,  finding  the  castle  totally  defenceless 
and  almost  in  ruins,  he  put  the  governor  under  an 
arrest ;  he  also  suspended  tehe  governor  of  Catania 
from  his  office ;  and,  it  appearing  that  they  had 
neglected  to  apply  to  the  preceding  Viceroy  for  the 
necessary  military  stores,  they  were  dismissed  from 
their  employments.  The  governor  of  Palli,  however, 
experienced  a  very  different  treatment ;  for,  in  reward 
for  the  care  and  attention  he  had  paid  to  the  duties 
of  his  station,  his  salary  was  considerably  augmented. 
The  principal  object  of  the  Viceroy  was  to  put  the 
maritime  towns  into  such  a  state  of  defence  as  might 
enable  them  to  deter  the  Turks  from  making  a  descent 
on  the  island ;  and  accordingly  he  ordered  them  all  to 
be  fortified. 

Messina,  where  he  ordered  a  great  number  of 
prisoners  to  be  executed,  was  a  place  to  which  he 
gave  great  attention  ;  and  the  Sicilians  perceiving 
the  industry  with  which  he  caused  powder,  ball, 
cannon,  muskets,  and  every  other  warlike  instrument 
to  be  manufactured,  rightly  conjectured  that  he  had 
secret  projects  of  great  importance  in  contemplation. 
This  conjecture  was  confirmed  by  his  ordering  a 
number  of  new  frigates  and  galleys  to  be  immediately 


92  THE  HISTORY  OF 

constructed;  and  it  was  concluded  that  he  intended 
not  only  to  render  Sicily  inaccessible  to  the  Turks, 
but  that  he  meant  even  to  follow  the  enemy  into  their 
own  ports  and  make  them  feel  the  terror  of  the  arms 
of  Philip  the  Third.  The  Duke  finished  his  circuit 
at  Syracuse,  and  after  delivering  the  gaols  of  their 
malefactors,  returned  to  Palermo,  where  he  was 
received  with  joyful  acclamations  and  every  de- 
monstration of  grateful  attachment.  The  peaceable 
inhabitants  of  Sicily  had  indeed  great  reason  to  be 
contented  with  his  government,  for  in  less  than  six 
months  he  had  reduced  the  number  of  daring  and 
dangerous  offenders  with  which  it  abounded,  restored 
the  tribunals  of  justice  to  proper  authority,  and  given 
tranquillity  and  happiness  to  the  people. 

The  Duke,  having  thus  arranged  the  internal 
policy  of  the  state,  turned  all  his  thoughts  to  ex- 
ternal operations  against  the  Turks,  who  had  in- 
fested the  coasts,  and,  as  opportunity  occurred,  carried 
away  the  inhabitants,  after  burning  the  adjacent 
villages,  and  committing  other  daring  outrages.  He 
accordingly  ordered  Don  Ottavio,  of  Arragon,  the 
commander  of  the  Sicilian  navy,  to  equip  six  frigates 
and  two  galleys,  and  proposed  to  the  Grand  Duke  of 
Tuscany  to  join  their  forces.  The  Grand  Duke  re- 
plied, that  he  should  send  a  squadron  to  sea  at  a 
certain  time,  with  a  view  to  attempt  some  enterprise 
against  Carmania ;  that  the  Duke  of  Ossuna  had 
only  to  take  his  measures  accordingly,  so  that  the 
joint  forces  might  be  ready  at  the  same  time  to  act 
in  concert  against  the  common  enemy.  The  Duke, 
pleased  with  this  reply,  astonished  a  country  which 
had  long  indolently  borne  the  insults  of  the  Turks, 
rather  than  take  any  measures  to  oppose  them,  by  the 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  93 

powerful  armament  he  raised.  The  fleet,  on  board  of 
which  were  many  Sicilian  noblemen,  was  just  read}' 
to  sail  under  the  command  of  Ottavio,  when  infor- 
mation arrived  that  the  fleet  of  the  Grand  Duke 
had  quitted  Leghorn.  Each  of  the  squadrons,  as  if 
jealous  of  the  honour  of  first  finding  and  giving 
battle  to  the  Turks,  steered  in  different  directions, 
and  separately  acted  with  equal  courage.  The 
Tuscan  admiral  laid  siege  to  the  castle  of  Agrimano, 
and  took  it  by  storm,  notwithstanding  the  strength 
of  its  garrison,  and,  after  collecting  a  considerable 
boot}',  set  the  place  on  fire.  On  the  other  side,  Don 
Ottavio  surprised  twelve  Turkish  galleys,  and  many 
other  vessels,  in  the  port  of  Scio,  and  took  them 
without  resistance.  The  victorious  admiral,  on  his 
return  to  Palermo,  received,  by  order  of  the  Viceroy, 
all  imaginable  honour,  and  the  Turkish  spoils  were 
ostentatiously  displayed  to  the  eyes  of  the  astonished 
Sicilians.  The  value  of  the  capture  was  estimated  at 
six  hundred  thousand  crowns. 

But  the  Sicilians  were  entertained  with  a  spectacle 
still  more  gratifying  than  all  the  rest;  they  beheld, 
on  the  disembarkation  of  the  ships,  seven  nundred 
Christians  who  had  been  delivered  from  slavery,  and 
nearly  three  thousand  Mahometans  bound  in  chains. 
The  Viceroy  divided  the  captured  property  into  four 
parts;  one  of  which  he  sent  to  the  court  of  Spain; 
distributed  another  among  five  of  the  principal  cities 
of  Sicily  ;  gave  a  third  to  the  officers,  soldiers,  and 
sailors  of  the  squadron  ;  and  the  fourth,  which  was  not 
the  least,  he  kept  himself.  It  is  certain,  however,  that 
he  employed  a  great  part  of  the  wealth  he  amassed 
in  relieving  the  indigent  and  in  other  good  actions,  by 
which  he  procured  great  popularity  and  applause. 


94  THE  HISTORY  OF 

But  here,  my  friendly  reader,  permit  me  to  pause. 
I  perceive  that  I  am  beginning  to  invade  the  province 
of  the  historian.  It  will  be  conceived,  perhaps,  that 
I  intend  to  write  all  the  transactions  of  Sicily  during 
the  government  of  Ossuna,  whereas  it  is  my  sole  in- 
tention to  relate  to  you  my  own  history.  Leaving, 
therefore,  the  exploits  of  this  hero  to  abler  pens  than 
mine,  I  will  hereafter  mention  no  circumstance  of  his 
government  in  which  I  was  not  myself  concerned  ; 
for  I  ought  not  to  forget,  that  it  is  by  an  account  of 
my  own  adventures  that  I  expect  to  entertain  you. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  95 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  USEFUL  FRIEND  WHICH  VANILLO  MET  WITH,  AND 
THE  FORTUITOUS  CIRCUMSTANCE  WHICH  RENDERED 
HIS  SERVICES  NECESSARY  TO   THE  VICEROY'. 

t 

ALTHOUGH  I  had  the  honour  to  serve  his  Excellency 
in  the  character  of  a  gentleman  page,  I  was  not 
thereby  rendered  more  rich.  This  post,  in  the  fami- 
lies of  great  men,  is  not  so  lucrative  as  that  of 
steward,  or  maitre  d'hotel.  It  is  true,  my  brother 
pages  and  myself  found  excellent  good  cheer  ;  we 
were  extremely  well  kept;  but  we  never  touched  a 
"halfpenny.  The  money  of  which  the  Viceroy  ordered 
charitable  distributions  to  be  made,  did  not  pass 
through  our  hands,  but  was  consigned  to  the  care 
of  higher  orders  in  the  household.  A  situation  so 
unproductive  frequently  brought  to  my  recollection 
my  lucrative  station  at  the  deanery,  and  the  pro- 
vision I  received  from  Don  Henry  at  Bologna.  A 
hundred  crowns  a  year,  and  six  rials  a  day,  appeared 
to  me  so  preferable  to  the  high  and  barren  honour  of 
attending  on  a  Viceroy,  that  I  could  not  avoid  com- 
plaining of  my  condition  to  Quivillo,  who,  more  hap- 
pily situated  than  I  was,  made  his  way  in  the  world 
with  great  rapidity,  since,  from  the  character  of 
gentleman  to  his  Excellency,  he  had  already  been 
promoted  to  a  lieutenancy  in  the  Guards.  "  I  have 
no  doubt,  Don  Joseph,"  said  I,  "  that  you  intended 
to  afford  me  great  advantages  when  you  introduced 
me  to  the  service  of  his  Excellency,  and  I  feel  as 
much  gratitude  to  you  as  if  he  had  overwhelmed  me 
with  favours :  but,  between  ourselves,  is  it  not  asto- 


96  THE  HISTORY  OF 

nishinsr,  that  since  I  have  had  the  honour  to  be  his 
page,  he  has  not  once  favoured  me  by  any  particular 
attention,  notwithstanding  you  apprised  him  of  my 
talents,  and  the  known  friendship  he  entertains  for 
persons  of  lively  conversation  ?  " 

"  I  am  not  less  surprised  at  this  circumstance  than 
you  are,"  replied  Quivillo,  "and  have  frequently 
thought  of  it  even  with  vexation;  for  you  will  easily 
imagine,  that  my  mind  cannot  feel  much  content 
when  you  are  dissatisfied.  As  I  induced  you  to 
quit  a  comfortable  and  advantageous  situation,  I  am 
bound  to  attend  to  your  interests:  and  I  assure  you 
most  solemnly,  that  my  mind  is  much  oftener  em- 
ployed in  contriving  your  promotion  than  my  own. 
As  a  proof  of  the  truth  of  this  assertion,"  continued 
Quivillo,  "  I  have  long  meditated  a  scheme,  the  suc- 
cess of  which  I  think  infallible,  and  from  which  you 
will  derive  important  advantage.  Thomas,  his  Ex- 
cellency's old  and  confidential  valet,  is  my  most  in- 
timate, and,  I  believe,  sincere  friend  ;  for  it  was  his 
interest  which  procured  me  my  late  appointment. 
You  are  not  ignorant  that  this  domestic  is  the  man 
in  whose  bosom  the  Duke  reposes  all  the  secrets  of 
his  heart,  and  by  whom  he  is,  in  short,  almost  entirely 
governed  ;  do  not  therefore  omit  any  opportunity  of 
gaining  the  good  opinion  of  this  man,  whose  friend- 
ship may  be  extremely  useful  to  you  ;  he  is  capable  of 
rendering  you  many  services  with  the  Duke  ;  his  bare 
word  will  fix  you  firmly  in  the  good  opinion  of  his 
master,  and  afford  you  frequent  opportunities  of  con- 
versing with  him.  This  scheme,  which  I  have  formed 
entirely  for  your  benefit,  shall  soon  be  accomplished  ; 
and  I  think  that,  in  the  course  of  eight  days  at 
farthest,  I  shall  hear  that  you  have  obtained  his 
affections"     In  short,  Don  Joseph  was  so  certain  of 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  97 

success,  that  he  only  rvmired  one  more  conversation 
with  Thomas  to  effect  his  purpose. 

This  old  and  faithful  servant,  who  was  a  man  of 
approved  merit,  had  not  only  been  born  in  the  Giron 
family,  and  successively  served  the  two  last  Dukes  of 
Ossuna,  but  had  been  the  companion  of  the  present 
Viceroy's  infancy,  whose  confidence  he  had  gained 
by  accommodating  himself  to  his  particular  humours 
and  inclinations,  with  which,  indeed,  he  was  better 
acquainted  than  any  other  person  existing. 

This  favoured  domestic  piqued  himself  on  writing 
the  Spanish  language  with  peculiar  elegance  and 
correctness,  and  I  made  my  court  to  him,  through 
the  medium  of  his  ruling  passion,  with  so  much  dex- 
terity and  address,  that  he  began  in  a  short  time  to 
exhibit  towards  me  unequivocal  symptoms  of  esteem 
and  friendship.  Authors  in  general  cannot  be  so 
highly  gratified  as  by  hearing  their  productions 
applauded  ;  but  Thomas  would,  I  think,  like  the 
Drusus  of  Horace,  have  willingly  forgiven  a  debtor 
who  had  listened  with  the  least  complacency  to  his 
works.  On  the  discovery  of  this  innocent  foible, 
so  common  to  literary  characters,  I  incessantly 
requested  of  him  to  read  to  me  particular  parts 
of  his  various  works  ;  for  he  had  not  only  completed 
the  history  of  one  of  the  Duke's  campaigns  in  Flan- 
ders, and  a  panegyric  of  his  conduct  while  resident  at 
the  court  of  the  Archduke,  but  was  now  composing 
a  diary  of  the  present  Viceroy's  transactions  in 
Sicily  ;  and,  although  his  compositions  were  far  from 
being  bad,  his  readings  were  frequently  so  tedious, 
that  I  seldom  found  him  a  very  entertaining  author, 
and  had  frequently  great  difficulty  in  rendering  my 
patience    equal    to    his    vanity.     I    always    testified, 

G 


98  THE  HlSTOblY  OF 

however,  extreme  pleasure  at  what  he  read,  and  even 
imitated  the  debtor  of  Drusus,  by  inclining  my  head 
in  such  a  manner  as  made  me  seem  the  more  anxious 
to  hear.  Delighted  by  the  apparent  constancy  of  my 
attention,  he  at  length  selected  me  for  his  confiden- 
tial friend.  "  Vanillo,"  said  he  one  day  to  me,  "you 
must  have  observed  that  I  have  for  some  time  enter- 
tained a  favourable  opinion  of  you  ;  but  I  will  now 
espouse  your  interests,  and  conduct  the  vessel  of 
your  fortune  into  a  safe  harbour.  Confide  the  task 
of  rendering  you  acceptable  to  his  Excellency  to  my 
care,  and  be  assured  that  I  will  seize  the  earliest 
opportunity  to  piocure  your  advancement." 

This  declaration  I  carried  with  joyful  haste  to 
Don  Joseph,  who  congratulated  me  on  my  success. 
"Thank  Heaven  !"  exclaimed  he,  "your  affairs  now 
begin  to  wear  a  more  favourable  aspect.  Your  situa- 
tion will  no  longer  disquiet  my  mind.  Thomas  has 
everything  in  his  own  power,  and  you  may  now  enter- 
tain the  highest  hopes  of  success."  And  Quivillo  did 
not  congratulate  me  without  reason  on  the  acquisition 
of  this  new  friend,  who  soon  afterwards  convinced  me 
that  I  had  not  done  wrong  in  relying  on  his  profes- 
sions. Being  attacked  by  a  severe  fit  of  the  gout 
which  confined  him  to  his  chamber,  he  sent  for  me, 
and  said  :  "  I  promised,  Vanillo,  to  embrace  the  first 
opportunity  to  do  you  service,  and  one  at  present 
offers  itself  which  I  will  not  permit  to  escape:  I  will 
inform  you  in  what  it  consists.  Listen  attentively  to 
my  discourse  upon  this  subject,  for  your  interests  are 
very  materially  involved  in  it.  The  Viceroy,  our 
master,  notwithstanding  the  seeming  coldness  of  his 
disposition,  is  not  an  enemy  to  love;  and  although 
he  affects  to  live  in  such  a  way  as  to  prevent  all 
suspicion   of  infidelity    to   the   Duchess,  he   is  rarely 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  99 

without  a  favourite  mistress.  The  Baroness  of  Conca 
who  is  only  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  is,  without 
doubt,  the  most  striking  beauty  in  Sicily,  is  at  pre- 
sent the  object  of  his  affections.  Her  husband,  who 
is  lately  dead,  and  whose  least  defect  was  that  of  being 
fifty  years  of  age,  was  so  extremely  jealous,  violent,  and 
capricious,  that  she  was  not  only  immured  from  all  the 
comforts  of  society,  but  frequently '  treated  by  him 
like  the  lowest  slave.  She  resides  at  present  with  her 
mother,  at  whose  home  the  Duke  frequently  visits,  in 
order  to  enjoy  the  pleasure  of  seeing  her  ;  but  their 
interviews  are  conducted  with  such  profound  secrecy 
and  address,  that  the  Duchess  does  not  even  suspect 
she  has  a  rival.  I  am  the  Duke's  confidential  com- 
panion in  these  nocturnal  visits,  which  it  would  not 
be  convenient  to  him  to  make  alone  ;  and,  as  it  will  be 
impossible  for  me  to  accompany  him  in  my  present 
situation,  I  have  chosen  you  as  my  substitute  on  these 
occasions.  His  Excellency  is  informed  of  my  intention 
upon  the  subject,  and,  upon  my  undertaking  to  answer 
for  your  secrecy,  has  consented  that  you  shall  supply 
my  place  until  the  return  of  health  enables  me  again 
to  discharge  this  important  function." 

Returning  unfeigned  thanks  to  my  benefactor  for 
the  preference  he  had  given  me  over  so  many  other 
domestics,  who  would  have  been  proud  of  the  honour 
of  so  delicate  an  employment,  I  requested  him  to 
inform  me  of  such  particulars  as  might  enable  me 
the  better  to  execute  my  task  to  the  satisfaction  of 
my  illustrious  employer;  but  he  desired  me  to  go 
first  and  present  myself,  in  his  name,  to  his  Excel- 
lency, and  inform  him  that  I  was  ready  and  anxious 
to  receive  his  commands,  and  then  to  return  to  him 
in  order  to  receive  particular  instructions  for  my  con- 
d"rt  in  this  important  embassy. 


ioo  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER   XV. 

THE  PARTICULAR  CONVERSATION  VANILLO  HAD  WITH 
THE  DUKE,  AND  WITH  WHAT  ADDRESS  HE  ACTED 
THE   PART    WHICH    THOMAS    HAD    ASSIGNED    TO    HIM. 

UNWILLING  to  lose  a  moment  upon  such  an  occasion, 
and  conceiving  that  I  should  meet  with  no  unfavour- 
able reception,  I  went  immediately  to  his  Excellency's 
study,  where  he  was  alone,  and,  boldly  opening  the 
door,  entered  the  room.  Nor  was  I  deceived  in  my 
conjectures  upon  this  subject,  for,  the  moment  he 
perceived  me,  "  Come  forward,  my  friend  Vanillo," 
said  he,  with  a  smiling  countenance;  "you  are,  I 
understand,  the  person  whom  Thomas  has  selected 
as  his  deputy;  and  his  good  opinion  is  not  only  a 
sufficient  testimony  of  your  merit,  but  clear  and 
unequivocal  evidence  of  the  talents  you  possess  ; 
for  I  know  that  he  is  not  easily  deceived  in  his 
estimation  of  characters." 

"  I  cannot  flatter  myself,"  replied  I,  "  that  he 
might  not  have  made  a  better  choice;  but  it  will 
be  some  consolation  to  your  Excellency  to  learn, 
that  this  useful  servant  will,  in  all  probability,  be 
in  a  situation  to  resume  his  functions  in  the  course 
of  a  few  days." 

"Should  he  recover  to-morrow,  Vanillo,"  replied 
the  Duke,  "as  he  has  once  placed  you  in  my  con- 
fidence, you  shall  continue  to  possess  it.  Besides, 
the  poor  fellow  begins  to  grow  old  and  infirm,  and 
is  in  want  of  a  coadjutor." 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  101 

"Permit  me,  my  lord,"  said  I,  "to  add  another 
reason : — a  nobleman,  burthened  as  you  are  with 
the  weighty  cares  of  government,  requires  the  assist- 
ance of  at  least  two  persons  to  lessen  your  fatigues." 

The  Viceroy,  far  from  being  offended  with  my 
freedom,  replied,  with  great  good  humour,  that  he 
intended  to  find  employment  for  both  of  us;  and, 
in  order  to  judge  of  my  talents,  asked  me  what 
masters  I  had  served. 

Orators  are  sometimes  less  brilliant  in  their 
speeches,  in  proportion  as  they  feel  an  anxiety  to 
excel ;  but  in  the  narration  which  this  question 
obliged  me  to  make,  I  succeeded  so  happily,  that 
1  afforded  my  noble  auditor  complete  satisfaction, 
by  the  ingenious  representation  I  gave  him  of  the 
several  conditions  in  life  through  which  I  had 
passed. 

"  1  am  perfectly  contented  with  you,"  said  he ; 
'-'you  shall  accompany  me  this  evening.  Go,  return 
to  Thomas,  and  tell  him  to  have  two  friars'  habits 
ready  for  the  occasion." 

Returning  to  the  apartment  of  this  favourite 
domestic,  I  gave  him  such  an  account  of  my  con- 
versation with  the  Duke,  as  convinced  him  that 
his  Excellency  was  perfectly  satisfied  with  his 
choice.  "The  business  is  done,"  said  he.  "His 
Excellency  has  discovered  }  our  abilities;  your 
foitune  is  made;  and  I  rejoice  with  you  must 
heartily  on  the  occasion  ;  but  it  will  now  be  neces- 
sary for  me  to  instruct  you  more  particularly  in 
the  task  you  have  to  perform.  You  will  take  care 
to  be  with  me  this  evening,  immediately  after  his 
Excellency  has  supped  ;  he  will  be  here  soon  after- 
wards, in   order   to   disguise  himself  in  the  habit  of 


io2  THE  HISTORY  OF 

a  friar;  for  this  is  the  concealment  under  which 
he  usually  visits  the  Baroness.  You  must  also 
disguise  yourself  in  the  same  manner,  in  order  to 
escape  unobserved  from  the  palace,  and  must  be 
particularly  careful  to  return  before  the  break  of 
day.  These  are  all  the  instructions  I  have  to  give 
you.  You  perceive,"  continued  he,  with  a  smile, 
"  that  nothing  more  is  expected  from  you  upon 
this  occasion  than  to  act  as  the  companion  of  a 
pious  character." 

I  was  not  less  punctual  than  the  Duke  in  re- 
turning at  the  appointed  time  to  the  apartment 
of  Thomas,  where,  without  any  ceremony,  we  each 
of  us  put  on  a  friar's  habit,  and,  being  equipped 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  be  easily  mistaken  for  monks 
going  their  nightly  circuit  to  confess  the  sick, 
we  issued  from  the  garden  of  the  palace  through 
a  private  door,  of  which  my  companion  kept  the 
key;  and  he  soon  convinced  me  that  he  was  not 
unacquainted  with  the  nearest  way  to  the  widow's 
house.  The  door  was  silently  opened  to  us,  with- 
out any  light,  and  every  circumstance  of  our  recep- 
tion was  so  cautious  and  concealed,  that  I  might 
have  fancied  we  were  entering  the  mansion  of  a 
virgin,  who,  wishing  to  change  her  condition,  had 
admitted  her  lover  without  the  permission  of  the 
family.  But  the  Baroness,  although  she  was  natu- 
rally a  coquette,  and  extremely  vain  of  the  empire 
«*he  had  gained  over  the  Viceroy's  heart,  was  willing 
to  conceal  the  intimacy  from  the  public  eye, — not, 
indeed,  from  any  anxiety  to  preserve  her  reputa- 
tion, but  from  a  fear  of  incurring  the  vengeance  of 
the  Duchess. 

Previous  to  our  departure  from  the  palace,  Thomas 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  103 

had  given  me  a  very  high  description  of  the  beauty 
of  this  adored  charmer ;  but  I  found  the  original 
far  superior  to  the  portrait  he  had  drawn  of  it.  My 
eyes  never  beheld  a  woman  of  such  transcendent 
beauty ;  but  I  must  confess,  the  richness  of  her 
attire,  as  well  as  the  art  with  which  she  was 
decorated,  conspired  with  the  charms  of  nature  to 
produce  the  pleasure  I  felt  in  admiring  her.  Bril- 
liant, however,  as  both  dress  and  beauty  had  rendered 
this  earthly  star,  she  was  not  the  only  object  that 
attracted  mv  attention  ;  for  Donna  Blanche  Sorra, 
her  mother,  although  nearly  thirty  years  of  age, 
justly  disputed  with  her  daughter  the  palm  of 
beauty,  and  divided  my  admiration,  Blanche  was 
the  widow  of  a  Commissioner  of  Royal  Accounts, 
and  lived  with  her  daughter  at  Palermo,  in  great 
credit  and  respectability. 

Conceiving  it  right  to  appear  like  a  younger 
brother  accompanying  his  holy  father  in  some 
charitable  visit,  I  remained  quite  silent  while  we 
continued  in  the  company  of  these  ladies.  But 
while  I  was  meditating  how  to  play  with  propriety 
a  single  character  in  these  nightly  scenes,  I  had 
unexpectedly  an  opportunity  of  representing  a 
double  part.  The  lovely-looking  Blanche,  whose 
manners  were  infinitely  more  noble,  and  whose 
wit  and  vivacity  were  certainly  not  inferior 
t#  those  of  Signora  Dalfa,  while  the  Duke  was 
engaged  in  close  conversation  with  her  charming 
daughter,  desired  me,  under  pretence  of  enjoying 
a  conversation  more  uninterruptedly,  to  walk  with 
her  into  another  room,  where,  placing  herself  on  a 
sofa,  she  desired  me  to  sit  by  her  side.  Our  con- 
versation  must  have   been   highlv   ludicrous,   if  the 


IC4  THE  HISTORY  OF 

lady  had  not  been  better  acquainted  with  the  Spanish 
language  than  I  was  with  the  Italian  ;  for  we  should 
scarcely  have  understood  each  other's  meaning; 
but  fortunately  Blanche  spoke  the  Castilian  tongue 
tolerably  well,  and,  commencing  by  expressions  of 
sorrow  that  Thomas  was  so  cruelly  tormented  with 
the  gout,  discovered  as  much  seeming  sensibility  for 
his  sufferings,  as  if  she  had  been  the  cause  of  them  ; 
then,  suddenly  changing  both  the  tone  of  her  voice 
and  the  subject  of  her  conversation,  and  addressing 
me  with  a  sprightly  air — "  My  young  friend,"  said 
she,  "  permit  me  to  be  your  confidant :  tell  me  how 
many  conquests  you  have  made  at  Palermo." 

"  Madam,"  replied  I,  with  great  appearance  of 
modesty,  "  you  surely  wish  to  laugh  at  me.  The 
ladies  of  Sicily  have,  I  am  sure,  too  refined  a  taste 
to  bestow  a  look  upon  a  person  so  undeserving  of 
their  attention." 

"You  should  entertain  a  more  favourable  opinion 
of  yourself,"  rejoined  Blanche.  "You  enjoy  the 
advantages  of  a  good  person,  and  your  merit  is  dis- 
cernible, notwithstanding  your  disguise.  Besides, 
you  are  now  of  that  happy  age  when  men  need 
only  show  themselves  to  attract  the  attention  of 
the  sex.  Perhaps,  unconscious  of  your  power,  you 
have  already  charmed  the  heart  of  some  amiable 
Sicilian,  whose  bashful  modesty  restrains  her  from 
declaring  her  passion." 

"  Why,  if  I  could  suppose  this  to  be  the  case," 
replied  I,  smiling,  "I  should  humbly  hope  the  lady 
would  pardon  me  for  treating  with  ingratitude  a 
happiness  I  was  ignorant  of  possessing." 

"  Oh,  you  will  soon  be  made  acquainted  with  it," 
replied   Blanche;   "she  will  break   through  restraint, 


VAN1LL0  GONZALES.  105 

inform  vou  of  your  victorv,  and  then  it  will  remain 
with  yourself  to  take  advantage  of  it." 

Blanche  pronounced  these  words  in  such  a  soft 
tone  of  voice,  as  convinced  me  that  my  youth 
had  made  a  strong  impression  on  her  mind,  and 
that  it  only  rested  with  me  to  perform  the  same 
part  with  the  mother  that  my  master  was  per- 
forming with  her  daughter.  Inexperienced  as  I 
was,  it  was  impossible  to  mistake  her;  and  I  felt 
an  inclination  to  pursue  the  point,  but  my  courage 
failed  me;  and  the  lady,  not  choosing  to  go  further 
on  the  first  interview,  the  conclusion  of  the  scene  was 
put  off  until  another  opportunity. 

During  this  time,  the  delightful  moments  of  love 
which  his  Excellency  passed  with  his  young  widow 
rolled  imperceptibly  away,  until  the  beams  of  Aurora 
began  to  twinkle  on  the  distant  horizon;  when,  re- 
collecting this  most  important  part  of  my  duty, 
I  instantly  announced  the  danger  of  approaching 
day,  and  sounded  a  retreat.  The  two  lovers  soon 
afterwards  separated,  not  without  regret,  although 
they  might  have  been  very  well  contented  with  the 
evening. 

In  bidding  adieu  to  Blanche,  I  pressed  one  of  her 
fair  hands  with  transport  to  my  lips,  in  order  to 
repair  the  affront  my  timidity  had  given  to  her 
charms ;  and  silently  issuing  from  the  mansion  of 
these  lovely  widows,  we  reached  the  palace  with- 
out being-  seen. 


io6  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE  CONVERSATION  WHICH  PASSED  THE  ENSUING  MORN- 
ING BETWEEN  VAN1LLO  AND  THOMAS THE  INGE- 
NIOUS SENTENCE  WHICH  WAS  PASSED  BY  THE  DUKE 
OF  OSSUNA,  AND  THE  CONSEQUENCES  WHICH  THAT 
SENTENCE  PRODUCED  UPON  THE  FUTURE  FORTUNES 
OF  VAN1LL0. 

Having  retired  to  the  apartment  of  Thomas  to 
unrobe,  the  Duke  went  immediately  afterwards  to 
his  bedchamber  to  sleep  ;  and  I  also,  although  I  had 
not  so  much  occasion  for  repose,  sought  mine  with 
th~  same  intention. 

On  the  ensuing  dav,  mv  first  care  was  to  visit 
my  friend  Thomas,  who,  on  seeing  me,  discovered 
great  impatience  to  learn  what  had  passed  dur  ng 
our  interview  with  the  ladies  on  the  preceding 
evening,  and  I  gave  him,  by  his  own  desire,  a  cir- 
cumstantial account  of  evervthincr  Being-  indeed 
by  nature  very  little  given  to  reserve,  feeling  myself 
under  too  many  obligations  to  him  to  conceal  any- 
thing from  his  knowledge,  and  urged  by  his  particular 
anxiety  to  be  informed  of  the  manner  in  which  I 
was  received  bv  Blanche,  I  related  to  him  not 
merely  the  conversation  that  had  passed  between 
us,  but  expatiated  much  more  at  large  upon 
the  subject  than  I  should  have  done  if  I  had 
been  acquainted  with  the  particular  interest  he 
had  in  it;  and,  not  finding,  in  truth,  matter  suffi- 
ciently splendid  to  do  honour  to  my  merit,  even 
added  to  my  narrations  several  fanciful  decorations. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  107 

I  was  then  ignorant  that  Thomas  was  deeply  ena- 
moured with  this  lady.  It  will  be  easily  conceived, 
that  under  such  circumstances  my  new  friend 
listened  to  my  story  with  great  displeasure.  The 
strong  terms,  indeed,  in  which  I  described  Blanche's 
tenderness  towards  me,  acted  like  deadly  blows 
upon  the  poor  creature's  heart ;  but  I  innocently 
attributed  the  grimaces  and  contortions  he  ex- 
hibited during  the  recital  to  the  pangs  of  the 
gout,  rather  than  to  what  in  truth  they  were,  the 
pangs  of  jealousy.  To  avoid  discovery,  however, 
he  affected  to  feel  the  highest  delight  and  satis- 
faction from  those  circumstances  in  my  narrative 
by  which  he  suffered  in  reality  the  keenest  pain. 
"  I  congratulate  you,  Vanillo,"  said  he,  with  a  forced 
smile;  "I  give  you  joy  on  your  having  inspired 
the  heart  of  so  charming  a  woman  with  love. 
Blanche,  though  somewhat  advanced  in  years,  is 
still  extremely  amiable.  I  am  delighted  to  find  you 
please  her.  I  exhort  you  to  dismiss  all  timidity 
upon  your  next  interview.  Women  in  general  are 
not  inclined  to  condemn  a  lover  for  hastilv  seizing 
an  occasion  to  be  happy."  But  the  jealous  lover, 
while  he  was  giving  me  this  advice,  well  knew 
that  he  was  able  to  prevent  me  from  following 
it. 

A  few  days  afterwards  I  learned  that  he  was  my 
rival ;  and  when  the  Duke  next  vioited  his  lovely 
Baroness,  Thomas,  although  his  health  was  far  from 
bein^  restored,  chose  to  be  his  Excellencv's  com- 
panion. 

Perceiving  the  important  mistake  I  had  com- 
mitted, my  mind  foreboded  every  possible  ill  con- 
sequence.     "  Miserable  young   man  !  "   exclaimed    I, 


io8  THE  HISTORY  OF 

"what  have  you  done  ?  What  demon,  the  enemy 
of  your  prosperity,  has  thus,  by  one  fatal  error, 
sunk  you  to  perdition  ?  Think  not  that  even  a 
friend  can  pardon  the  crime  of  being  'beloved  by 
his  mistress.  You  must  no  longer  expect  the 
friendship  of  Thomas,  or  fancy  that  he  will  con- 
tinue your  Mecaenas.  Generous  sentiments  may 
perhaps  prevent  him  from  injuring-  you,  but  they 
will  never  ur«"e  him  to  do  vou  anv  service." 

While  I  reproached  myself  in  this  manner  for 
my  youthful  indiscretion,  my  rival,  although  he 
observed  a  profound  silence  respecting  his  recent 
interview  with  his  adored  Blanche,  and  never  after- 
wards mentioned  her  name  in  mv  hearing,  main- 
tained,  to  all  outward  appearance,  the  same  esteem 
and  friendship  for  me  as  before  ;  for  he  not  only 
always  received  me  with  great  cordiality,  but  pro- 
fessed, as  usual,  the  warmest  friendship;  and  even 
promised  that  I  should,  in  his  stead,  occasionally 
accompany  his  Excellency  in  certain  nocturnal  ex- 
peditions, which  he  frequently  made  to  .'earn  the 
private  sentiments  of  the  inhabitants  of  Palermo 
respecting  his  administration  of  the  government  ; 
for  the  Baroness  de  Conca  was  not  always  the 
cause  of  his  nocturnal  sorties.  This  practice,  which 
no  Viceroy  had  ever  before  adopted,  he  performed 
by  placing  himself  in  the  streets  under  various 
disguises,  sometimes  as  a  soldier,  at  other  times  as 
a  sailor,  at  other  times  as  a  beggar,  and  entering 
into  conversation  with  the  populace,  in  which  he 
provoked  them  by  every  means  in  his  power  to 
express  their  opinions,  whether  good  or  bad,  of  the 
manner  in  which  he  conducted  the  public  affairs. 
Without  inquiring  whether  this   conduct  be   blame- 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  109 

able  or  praiseworthy,  it  is  sufficient  for  me  to  say, 
that  one  night  when  I  accompanied  the  Duke,  I 
should  have  gladly  resigned  the  honour  to  my 
friend  Thomas;  for,  having  joined  a  cluster  of  the 
lowest  order,  who  had  assembled  to  entertain  them- 
selves, the  Duke  thought  proper  to  censure  a  par- 
ticular measure  of  his  own  which  he  had  then 
recently  enforced,  in  order  to  hear  what  they  would 
say  on  the  subject,  when  instantly  two  or  three  ot 
them,  who  perhaps  knew  him,  fell  upon  us  both, 
and  beat  us  about  the  head  and  stomach  as  if  we 
had  been  two  seditious  brawlers  against  the  state ; 
and  it  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  that  we  made 
our  escape.  Of  some  of  these  adventures  the  Duke 
frequently  formed  many  entertaining  stories,  but  I 
never  heard  him  mention  this. 

Indulged,  however,  as  I  was,  in  being  permitted 
to  accompany  his  Excellency  on  these  secret  and 
midnight  expeditions,  I  was  never  permitted  to 
accompany  him  to  his  mistress's  house  ;  an  office 
which  his  confidant  Thomas,  whom  jealousy  seemed 
to  have  cured  completely  of  the  gout,  always  took 
special  care  to  execute  in  his  own  person.  Having, 
however,  a  much  greater  desire  to  preserve  the 
friendship  of  the  valet- de-chambre  than  to  increase 
the  good  opinion  of  his  mistress,  the  exclusion  gave 
me  no  uneasiness;  and  attaching  myself  to  him 
more  than  ever,  I  was  so  assiduous,  that  if  I  did 
not  in  fact  efface  from  his  memory  ail  recollection 
of  the  confidence  I  had  so  foolishly  reposed  in  him, 
I  found  him  at  least  to  fei^n  for^etfulness  of  it  so 
well,  that  he  seemed  to  increase  in  affection  for 
me  day  after  day  ;  and  at  length  I  fondly  flattered 
myself,  that,  satisfied  with  having  removed  me  from 


no  THE  HISTORY  OP 

all  opportunity  of  seeing  Blanche,  he  had  nothing 
upon  his  mind  against  me. 

While  I  was  contemplating  my  security  on  this 
subject,  a  young  citizen  of  Palermo  accosted  me 
one  day  in  the  street,  saying,  with  a  countenance 
of  sorrow:  "I  entreat  you,  sir,  to  pardon  the  liberty 
I  take  in  speaking  to  you  ;  but,  perceiving  by  your 
dress  that  you  are  one  of  the  Viceroy's  pages,  I 
wish  you  to  afford  me,  by  a  quarter  of  an  hour's 
conversation,  an  opportunity  of  communicating  to 
you  a  matter  of  great  importance  ;  if  you  can  feel 
a  disposition  to  render  a  service  to  a  deserving  man, 
you  will  do  me  the  favour  to  follow  me."  Assuring 
him  that  he  could  not  apply  to  a  person  more 
disposed  than  I  was  to  afford  pleasure  to  others, 
he  conducted  me  to  a  house  of  rather  an  elegant 
structure,  and  introduced  me  into  a  chamber  where 
lay  a  bed-ridden  old  man.  "  Sir,"  said  the  youth, 
as  we  entered  the  room,  "  there  you  behold  an  un- 
fortunate father  in  a  situation  that  deserves  your 
compassion.  Grief,  which  the  treachery  of  a  friend 
who  has  robbed  him  of  ten  thousand  crowns 
has  occasioned,  is  the  cause  of  his  malady.  We 
are  both  of  us  entirely  ruined,  unless  we  can 
make  interest  with  the  Viceroy  to  interfere  in  our 
behalf." 

"  You  know  very  well,"  replied  I,  "  that  his  Ex- 
cellency is  easy  of  access  ;  that  he  is  humane, 
affable,  and  extremely  patient  in  listening  to  any 
complaints.  Nevertheless,  although  you  have  no 
necessity  for  any  recommendation  to  him,  I  shall 
be  happy  to  afford  you  every  good  office  in  my 
power.  I  am,  perhaps,  the  most  favoured  of  his 
pages.      Tell   me,   therefore,  the   particulars   of  this 


VAN1LL0  GONZALES.  ill 

affair,  and  I  will  answer  that  his  Excellency  will  do 
you  complete  justice." 

The  father  and  son  thanked  me  for  my  kindness, 
and  concluded  their  compliments  by  promising  me  a 
present  of  two  hundred  pistoles. 

"  Softly,  gentlemen,"  said  I,  "  and  permit  me 
first  to  inform  you,  that  all  the  domestics  of  the 
Viceroy  are  forbidden  to  receive  the  smallest  gra- 
tuity from  persons  they  may  serve,  under  the 
penalties  of  being  not  only  severely  punished, 
but  immediately  driven  from  the  palace  in  dis- 
grace." 

"This  is  too  rigorous  a  law,"  cried  the  old  man. 
"How  then  shall  I  show  my  gratitude?  for  it  is 
mortifying  not  to  be  able  to  acknowledge  favours 
conferred,  except  by  vain  expressions  of  the  senti- 
ments they  create." 

"A  Spanish  benefactor  expects  no  other  reward," 
replied  I  haughtily.  "  Let  us  quit  this  unne- 
cessary discourse,  and  relate  to  me  the  circum- 
stances of  the  treachery  which  has  caused  your 
ruin." 

The  old  man  began  accordingly  in  the  following 
manner  : 

"  My  name  is  Giannetino.  I  am  the  son  of  a 
counsellor  at  law,  who,  after  a  laborious  life,  passed 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  died  rather  poor 
than  rich  ;  a  circumstance  which  can  only  be  at- 
tributed to  the  excessive  disinterestedness  and 
scrupulous  integrity  of  his  conduct.  Subsequent  to 
my  father's  decease,  I  had  the  good  fortune  to 
marry  a  widow  with  a  jointure  of  a  thousand 
crowns,  and  by  this  union  was  enabled  to  live  at 
Palermo  with  elegance  and  ease.      I   have  still  the 


112  THE  HISTORY  OF 

reputation  of  being  in  good  circumstances,  but  I 
shall  soon  be  classed  among  the  most  miserable  of 
its  citizens  ;  and,  if  I  lose  the  suit  which  has  been 
entered  against  me  to-day,  I  shall  be  truly  wretched 
indeed.  The  cause  of  it  is  as  follows  :  About  six 
months  ago,  Charles  Azarini,  Peter  Scannati,  and 
Jerom  Avellino,  three  merchants,  all  of  them  my 
intimate  friends,  came  to  this  house,  accompanied 
by  a  public  notary,  and,  bringing  with  them  the 
sum  of  six  thousand  crowns  in  gold,  informed  me 
that  they  had  agreed  to  make  me  the  depositary 
of  this  money,  which  they  intended  to  export  when- 
ever an  advantageous  opportunity  happened.  De- 
livering it  into  my  possession,  they  desired  me  to 
give  them  an  undertaking  in  writing,  that  I  would 
not  deliver  it,  or  any  part  of  it,  to  any  one  of 
them  except  in  the  presence  of  the  other  two  ; 
and  I  accordingly  entered  into  this  engagement  by 
executing  a  document  which  the  notary  prepared 
for  this  purpose.  We  carefully  preserved  the  money 
thus  deposited  for  the  parties  concerned  whenever 
its  delivery  should  be  required.  But  a  few  nights 
igo,  Jerom  Avellino  knocked  loudly  at  my  door, 
and,  on  its  being  opened,  hastily  entered  my  room 
in  great  agitation.  '  Signor  Giannetin©,'  said  he, 
'if  I  break  in  upon  the  hours  of  repose,  you  must 
excuse  the  interruption  from  the  importance  of  the 
business  which  occasions  it.  Azarini,  Scannati,  and 
myself  have  learnt  that  a  Genoese  vessel  richly 
laden  is  just  arrived  at  Messina,  from  which,  if  de- 
spatch be  used,  we  have  an  opportunity  of  deriving 
great  advantage,  and  have  therefore  resolved  to 
employ  the  ten  thousand  crowns  which  are  in  your 
hands.     Make  haste,  if  you  please,  and  deliver  them 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  113 

to  me  ;  my  horse  is  waiting  at  the  door  ;  and  I 
burn  with  impatience  to  reach  Messina.' — '  Signor 
Avellino,'   said    I,    '  you    seem    to    have    forgot    that 

I    cannot    part    with    them    unless' 'Oh!    no, 

no,'  interrupted  he,  '  I  very  well  recollect  that 
it  is  expressed  in  the  agreement,  that  you  are 
not  to  deliver  them  unless  the  three  parties 
be  present  ;  but  Azarini  and  Scannati  are  ill,  and 
c«uld  not  accompany  me  to  your  house;  they  how- 
ever absolve  you  from  that  condition,  and  desire 
that  you  will  deliver  me  the  money  immediately : 
every  moment  is  of  consequence;  come,  you  have 
nothing  to  fear ;  you  have  long  known  me;  I  have 
always  maintained  the  character  of  an  honest  man, 
and  I  hope  you  will  not,  by  any  unjust  suspicion  of 
my  integrity,  disturb  the  friendship  which  has  sub- 
sisted between  us,  and  be  the  cause  of  our  losing  the 
present  advantageous  opportunity.  Do,  do  make 
haste,'  continued  he ;  '  deliver  me  the  money  instantly, 
or  I  am  fearful  I  shall  be  too  late  at  Messina.'  A  secret 
apprehension  of  danger,  which  Heaven,  no  doubt,  in- 
spired for  my  safety,  made  me  hesitate  a  long  time  ; 
but  Avellino,  the  villain  Avellino,  supplicated,  pressed, 
and  tormented  me  in  such  a  way,  that  my  resistance 
at  length  failed,  and  I  foolishly  delivered  to  him  the 
deposit ;  with  which  he  immediately  disappeared." 

The  old  man,  as  he  uttered  these  words,  recollecting 
his  imprudence,  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears.  My  heart 
melted  at  his  distress.  "  Do  not  afflict  yourself,"  said 
I,  endeavouring  to  console  him  ;  "  his  Excellency  the 
Viceroy  has  much  in  his  power.  Avellino  will  have 
great  difficulty  to  escape  his  vengeance." 

"  Avellino,  alas  ! "  said  the  son  of  the  old  citizen, 
"is  already  at  a  great  distance;  and,  what  is  more 

II 


114  THE  HISTORY  OF 

afflicting,  no  sooner  were  Azarini  and  Scai.nati  in- 
formed of  the  trick  their  associate  had  played,  than 
they  instantly  commenced  a  suit  against  my  father 
for  the  money  confided  to  his  care.  This  cause  will 
be  heard  in  the  course  of  two  days,  and  my  poor 
father,  in  all  probability,  will  be  condemned  to  restore 
ten  thousand  crowns  to  the  complainants." 

"  The  cause  is  not  yet  decided,"  exclaimed  I ;  "  and 
I  have  no  doubt  that  the  Viceroy,  upon  being  informed 
of  the  facts  and  circumstances,  which  he  shall  be  this 
very  day,  will  choose  to  try  this  cause  himself." 

I  made  a  faithful  report  of  this  case  to  his  Excel- 
lency, who,  after  great  attention,  said  to  me,  smiling, 
"  I  shall  give  such  a  judgment  in  this  case  as  will 
make  some  noise  in  the  world." 

On  the  succeeding  day  he  summoned  the  parties 
to  appear  before  him  ;  and  when  the  plaintiffs  had 
pleaded  their  cause,  he  addressed  the  defendant. 

"  Giannetino,"  said  he,  "what  answer  have  you  to 
make  to  this  demand  ?  " 

"  None,  sir,"  replied  Giannetino,  elevating  his  shoul- 
ders and  resting  his  chin  upon  his  breast. 

"  He  is  right,  gentlemen,"  replied  the  Duke,  ad- 
dressing himself  to  Azarini  and  Scannati ;  "  he  has  no 
answer  to  make  to  your  charge.  He  acknowledges 
all  that  you  have  said,  and  is  ready  to  pay  you  the 
ten  thousand  crowns  which  were  deposited  in  his 
hands  ;  but  as  he  cannot,  by  the  terms  of  the  agree- 
ment, deliver  them  unless  the  three  parties  be  actually 
present,  do  you  bring  Avellino  into  court,  and  you 
shall  have  the  money." 

The  numerous  auditory  which  attended  this  trial  no 
sooner  heard  the  judgment,  than  the  court  resounded 
with  peals  of  applause,  and  it  became  the  subject  of 
conversation  everywhere  throughout  Italy. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  115 

Giannetino  and  his  son,  who  thought  their  ruin 
certain,  overjoyed  to  find  themselves  delivered  from 
their  embarrassment,  gratefully  invited  me  to  dine 
with  them.  After  dinner  they  spread  upon  the  table 
the  two  hundred  pistoles  which  they  had  promised  to 
give  me,  and  which  I  had  refused  to  accept.  What  a 
sight  was  this  to  me!  They  pressed  me  to  accept  of 
them,  protesting  that  no  person  whatever  should 
know  it.  Human  fortitude  is  extremely  weak.  They 
urged  my  acceptance  of  them  in  such  various  ways, 
and  used  so  many  arguments  on  the  subject,  that  at 
length,  finding  it  impossible  to  refuse,  I  reconciled  all 
difficulties  by  putting  the  purse  in  which  they  were 
enclosed  into  my  pocket.  Recollecting,  however,  that 
the  Duke  was  averse  to  the  servants  of  his  house 
making  a  traffic  of  their  favours,  I  felt  great  uneasi- 
ness. But  I  trusted  that  this  single  instance  of  mis- 
conduct would  never  reach  his  ear,  and  I  am  persuaded 
that  the  two  Giannetinos  would  never  have  divulged 
the  secret,  if  his  Excellency  had  not  sent  for  the 
father  three  days  afterwards,  and  asked  him,  in  my 
hearing,  whether  he  had  not  made  me  some  present. 
The  old  man,  incapable  of  falsehood,  and  unwilling 
to  discover  the  truth  for  fear  of  doing  me  an  injury, 
was  exceedingly  embarrassed  by  the  question,  while 
I  felt  the  ground  tremble  under  my  feet. 

"  Conceal  nothing  from  me,"  said  the  Duke,  with  a 
fierce  and  menacing  aspect.  "  I  command  you,  upon 
pain  of  my  displeasure,  to  tell  me  what  testimony  of 
gratitude  Vanillo  has  received  from  your  hands." 

The  citizen,  well  knowing  that  the  Viceroy  was  a 
man  before  whom  it  was  dangerous  to  equivocate, 
acknowledged  that  he  had  given  me  two  hundred 
pistoles,  adding,  by  way  of  excuse  for  me,  that  they 
had  been  forced  upon  me  by  himself  and  his  son. 


n6  THE  HISTORY  OF 

"  I  do  not  blame  you,"  replied  the  Duke,  "  for  hav- 
ing offered  him  the  money  ;  but,  knowing  my  delicacy 
and  express  orders  upon  this  subject,  he  should  not 
have  taken  it.    It  is  an  offence  which  I  cannot  forgive." 

Having  expressed  himself  to  this  effect,  he  turned 
towards  me,  and  inquired  what  I  had  done  with  the 
money. 

"  It  is,"  replied  I,  "  in  my  chamber,  in  the  same 
state  as  when  I  received  it." 

"  Well,  then,"  said  he,  "  fetch  it  here  immediately." 

I  obeyed  ;  and  when  I  returned  with  my  purse,  he 
delivered  it  to  one  of  his  gentlemen  in  waiting,  say- 
ing, "  Go  and  distribute  these  pistoles  among  the  poor, 
for  they  alone  ought  to  benefit  by  the  indiscretion  of 
Giannetino.  But  as  for  you,  Vanillo,"  continued  he, 
"you  may  retire  whenever  you  please;  you  are  no 
longer  in  my  service  ;  and  I  forbid  you  for  ever  here- 
after to  enter  the  palace  gates." 

Throwing  myself  at  the  feet  of  my  offended  master, 
I  endeavoured  to  excite  his  compassion.  Useless 
servility  !  He  darted  a  look  of  furious  anger  on  me, 
and  walked  away. 

Drowned  in  tears,  I  ran  to  the  apartment  of  Thomas, 
and  related  to  him  the  circumstances  of  my  disgrace; 
and  I  must  do  him  the  justice  to  say,  that  he  not  only 
seemed  afflicted  by  my  misfortune,  but  promised  me 
his  endeavours  to  appease  the  anger  of  the  Viceroy. 
Certain  it  is  that  no  person  could  have  interposed 
with  greater  probability  of  success,  and  perhaps  I 
should  have  been  restored  to  favour  if  he  had  made  the 
attempt ;  but,  more  jealous  than  generous,  he  felt  a 
secret  pleasure  in  my  expulsion,  and  took  good  care 
that  I  should  derive  no  advantage  from  his  interces- 
sion, although  he  positively  assured  me  that  he  had 
used  every  effort  to  procure  my  pardon; 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  117 

"  I  represented  to  his  Excellency,"  said  he,  "  every- 
thing that  suggested  itself  to  me  in  your  favour.  I 
showed  as  much  anxiety  for  you  as  if  you  had  been 
my  own  son.  In  short,  I  neglected  no  means  to  re- 
establish you  in  his  good  opinion;  but  all  my  endea- 
vours were  fruitless;  he  is  inexorable.  He  even  told 
me  that  he  had  been  too  indulgent  in  ordering  only  a 
simple  dismission  from  his  service,  for  that  your  crime 
deserved  a  more  rigorous  chastisement.  My  dear 
Vanillo,"  added  the  perfidious  Thomas,  embracing  me 
tenderly,  "  you  cannot  conceive  the  mortification  I 
feel  in  not  having  been  able  to  move  his  Excellency 
upon  this  occasion,  notwithstanding  the  ascendency 
which  T  possess  over  his  mind." 

And  this  artful  old  valet-de-chambre,  the  better  to 
insinuate  that  he  was  speaking  sincerely,  and  had 
always  felt  an  affection  for  me,  offered  me  a  purse 
containing  about  twenty  pistoles,  which  I  took  with- 
out hesitation,  having  lost  every  hope  of  being  restored 
to  my  station  under  the  Viceroy. 

Previous  to  my  departure  from  the  palace,  I  went 
to  bid  adieu  to  Quivello,  who  was  already  acquainted 
with  my  disgrace.  "  My  friend,  Vanillo,"  said  he  at  a 
distance,  the  moment  he  saw  me,  "  I  know  all.  His 
Excellency,  whom  I  have  just  left,  has  himself  related 
to  me  everything  that  has  passed.  I  have  endea- 
voured in  vain  to  persuade  him  to  forgive  you.  I 
could  not  even  prevail  upon  him  to  revoke  the  sen- 
tence he  has  passed.     I  lament  it  most  sincerely  !  " 

We  wept  bitterly  on  taking  leave  of  each  other. 
But  I  must  not  forget  that,  to  moderate  my  affliction 
he  gave  me  at  the  same  time  from  his  Excellency  a 
mitigation  of  a  hundred  pistoles,  with  which  I  re- 
turned from  the  palace  more  than  half  reconciled  to 
the  adversity  of  my  fate. 


n8  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

BY  WHAT  ACCIDENT  AND  WITH  WHAT  DESIGN  VANILLO 
BECAME  AN  APOTHECARY,  AND  THE  HAPPY  EFFECT 
WHICH  A  QUID  PRO  QUO  PRODUCED  ON  HIS  FORTUNES. 

On  leaving  the  palace  of  the  Viceroy,  the  first  person 
I  met  was  the  son  of  Giannetino.  "  I  was  coming,' 
said  he,  "to  request  of  you  to  seek  an  asylum  in  my 
father's  house;  justice  requires  that  we  should  be 
sensible  to  the  misfortunes  of  a  man  who  has  ruined 
himself  by  his  endeavours  to  render  us  service." 

Without  waiting  for  a  second  invitation,  I  suffered 
the  youth  to  conduct  me  to  his  father's  house,  where 
I  was  received  by  both  the  father  and  the  son  with 
every  testimony  of  gratitude  and  esteem. 

I  had  lived  almost  a  fortnight  with  Giannetino, 
when  the  generous  old  man  said  to  me,  "  My  dear 
Gonzales,  I  consider  you  as  my  second  son,  and  am 
anxious  to  procure  you  a  permanent  establishment  in 
Palermo.  There  is  in  this  city  an  old  apothecary, 
who  is  not  only  my  near  relation,  but,  what  is  more 
important,  my  intimate  friend  ;  and  I  have  conceived 
the  idea  of  placing  you  under  his  care.  Pharmacy  is 
a  science  of  which  you  will  soon  acquire  a  complete 
knowledge,  and  you  may  then  marry  his  only  daughter 
Violetta,  who  will  make  you  an  excellent  wife.  She 
is  certainly  not  the  most  perfect  beauty  ;  but  she  is 
sufficiently  pleasing,  and  has  the  reputation  of  being 
the  most  sensible  girl  in  Palermo.  Besides,  she  will, 
at  the  death  of  her  father,  possess  a  good  fortune. 
Consider  of  this  proposal,"  added  he,  "  and  if  matri- 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  119 

mony  be  net  disagreeable  to  you,  and  you  have  no 
objection  to  the  business  of  an  apothecary,  I  will 
immediately  make  overtures  to  my  friend  in  your 
favour." 

Requesting  Giannetino  would  allow  me  four  and 
twenty  hours  to  reflect  upon  this  proposal,  I  carefully 
examined  all  its  advantages  and  disadvantages  in  the 
best  manner  I  was  able.  The  idea  of  making  juleps 
and  decoctions  sometimes  disgusted  me,  but  at  others 
pharmacy  appeared  to  me  to  be  far  preferable  to  sur- 
gery. "  The  reason  of  my  dislike  to  surgery,"  said  I, 
"  was  the  necessity  I  was  under  of  blunting  all  the 
feelings  of  the  heart,  in  order  to  perform  its  cruel 
operations :  but  that  is  not  the  case  with  an  apothe- 
cary ;  he  is  under  no  necessity  of  being  cruel  in  mak- 
ing his  salves  and  compounds."  Having  examined  the 
subject  in  every  point  of  view,  I  at  length  determined 
to  accede  to  Giannetino's  proposal.  This  generous 
Sicilian,  the  moment  he  received  my  answer,  applied 
to  the  old  apothecary,  who  made  no  objection  to  this 
scheme,  and  I  was  immediately  received  into  his 
house. 

My  future  father-in-law,  whose  name  vas  Andrew 
Potoschi,  was  a  man  profoundly  skilled  in  all  the 
mysteries  of  his  profession  ;  an  excellent  chemist,  and 
an  accurate  observer  of  the  phenomena  of  nature 
he  had  made  many  curious  discoveries,  and  possessed 
secrets  in  the  science  of  pharmacology,  of  extreme 
importance  to  the  fair  sex  ;  particularly  a  cosmetic  of 
his  own  invention,  which  restored  a  decayed  skin  to 
its  pristine  bloom;  and  a  pomade  which  effectually 
dispelled  the  wrinkles  of  old  age.  As  he  intended  to 
relinquish  his  business  in  my  favour  whenever  I  should 
espouse  Violetta,  he  instructed  me,  with  great  dill- 


120  THE  HISTORY  OF 

gence,  on  all  the  mysteries  of  his  art,  and  I  soon 
learned  to  compound  drugs  and  administer  clysters 
with  great  art  and  dexterity. 

Potoschi  soon  discovered  that  I  should  make  in  a 
short  time  a  skilful  pharmacopolist ;  and  I  must 
say  that  he  spared  no  pains  to  teach  me  this  pro- 
found art,  nor  did  I  neglect  to  profit  by  his  scientific 
instructions. 

I  fancy,  in  this  place,  that  I  hear  the  jocose  reader 
say,  "  Master  Vanillo,  you  do  not  disclose  the  whole 
truth.  The  real  cause  of  this  zealous  application  to 
the  business  may,  however,  be  easily  discovered. 
Beauty  was  to  be  the  reward,  and  it  impelled  you  to 
industry." 

I  acknowledge  it:  the  amiable  Violetta  appeared 
to  me  the  richest  prize  that  could  be  proposed  to  ani- 
mate my  labours  in  the  study  of  pharmacy.     She  was 
between  twenty-two  and  twenty-three  years  of  age, 
elegant  in  her  person,  accomplished  in  her  mind,  and, 
what  is  very  extraordinary  in  Sicily,  where  women  in 
general  are  boldly  coquettish,  extremely  modest  and 
reserved  in  her  manners.     She   had   been   educated, 
since  the  death  of  her  mother,  which  happened  about 
ten  years  before,  under  the  eye  of  an   old  governess, 
who  still  superintended  her  conduct.     But  the  terms 
on  which  I  was  introduced  to  the  family  afforded  me 
the  opportunity  of  conversing  with  her  whenever  I 
pleased.      Our    behaviour,    however,    to    each    other 
never  exceeded  the  bounds  of  distant  respect  on   my 
side,  and  modest  timidity  on  hers  ;  for,  to  speak  the 
truth,  I  had  too  much  diffidence  to  ask  the  question, 
and  she  had  too  much  virtue  to  urge  me  to  it. 

The  merit  of  Potoschi  was  so  extensive,  that  he 
was  more  resorted  to  than  any  other  apothecary  in 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  121 

Palermo.  Patients  sent  for  him  from  all  parts  ;  but 
as  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  attend  personally  on 
them  all,  he  frequently  sent  me  in  his  stead  ;  and  I 
was  considered  in  the  families  which  I  visited  as  his 
confidential  assistant.  One  day,  while  Potoschi  was 
absent,  a  woman  came  into  the  shop,  and  asked  for 
the  master  of  the  house.  "  Madam,"  said  I,  "  he  is 
gone  into  the  city ;  but  I  am  his  representative,  and 
you  may  safely  intrust  me  with  your  commands." 

"  If  that  be  the  case,"  replied  she,  "  my  mistress 
the  Baroness  de  Conca  desires  the  Doctor  will  call 
upon  her  this  evening." 

"  Very  well,"  said  I,  "  you  may  depend  upon  it 
that  he  will  not  fail." 

Upon  which  the  girl  dropped  a  low  courtesy,  and 
without  staying  to  gossip  a  single  moment,  Abigail 
as  she  was,  left  the  shop. 

The  Doctor,  who  had  been  to  leave  certain  pow- 
ders at  the  house  of  an  old  judge,  who  was  to  be 
married  in  two  days  to  a  young  lady  of  fifteen, 
returned  home  in  a  few  minutes  afterwards. 

"  Sir,"  said  I,  "  the  Baroness  de  Conca  desires  your 
attendance  in  the  evening-." 

Potoschi  smiled  at  these  words  in  a  way  that 
seemed  mysterious,  and  the  terms  upon  which  we 
lived  together  were  so  familiar,  that  I  did  not  hesitate 
a  moment  to  ask  him  the  reason  of  his  smiling  so  signifi- 
cantly  when  the  name  of  the  Baroness  was  mentioned. 
"  My  dear  son-in-law,"  said  he,  for  this  was  my 
usual  appellation,  "  although  you  was  one  of  the 
Viceroy's  pages,  I  perceive  you  are  ignorant  that  the 
Baroness  is  his  mistress.  Take  care,"  continued  he, 
"  not  to  reveal  this  secret.  The  secrecy  of  an  apothe- 
cary, as  well  as  that  of  a  surgeon,  ought  to  be  proof 


122  THE  HISTORY  OF 

against  every  temptation  ;  but  between  ourselves, 
and  for  the  sake  of  entertainment,  there  is  no  objec- 
tion to  disclose  what  we  know." 

To  induce  Potoschi  to  continue  the  conversation,  1 
affected  an  entire  ignorance  on  the  subject,  and  my 
future  father-in-law  went  on  thus  :  "  I  have  known 
the  Baroness  de  Conca,"  said  he,  "from  her  earliest 
infancy,  as  well  as  Donna  Blanche  Sorba,  her  mother, 
and  have  attended  them  as  their  apothecary  for 
many  years.  It  was  I  who  furnished  them  with 
medicines  for  the  disorders  of  which  their  husbands 
died  ;  both  of  them  rely  upon  me  with  implicit  con- 
fidence ;  and  they  have  good  reason,  for  I  afford  both 
of  them  very  essential  services.  Blanche,  who  is  by 
nature  as  black  as  a  beetle,  and  covered  with  pimples, 
possesses  by  art  the  complexion  of  a  cherub:  thanks 
to  the  lotion  and  pomade  which  I  shall  teach  you  to 
make!  The  labour  of  three  hours  at  her  toilet 
renders  her  person  so  different  in  its  appearance,  that 
she  is  completely  metamorphosed.  It  is  no  wonder 
that  Signor  Thomas,  the  Duke  of  Ossuna's  favourite, 
makes  her  his  idol." 

"  It  appears,"  said  I,  "  that  this  lady  is  under  great 
obligations  to  you,  indeed." 

"Her  daughter,"  replied  he,  "is  not  under  less. 
The  Baroness,  young  as  she  is,  labours  under  certain 
infirmities  which  oblige  her  to  have  a  perpetual  issue 
in  one  of  her  legs,  and  by  my  care  it  is  kept  so  clean 
as  to  set  the  nicest  sense  of  smelling  completely  at 
defiance.  She  also  is  equally  beholden  to  both  my 
lotion  and  my  pomade.  In  short,  if  the  Baroness 
has  really  charmeo  the  Viceroy,  she  is  more  indebted 
to  my  art  than  to  her  own  nature  for  her  success." 

The  Doctor's  discourse  convinced  me  that  my  friend 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  123 

Thomas's  attachment  was  not  very  enviable ;  and 
while  it  reconciled  me  to  the  indiscretion  I  had  been 
guilty  of  in  disclosing  my  conversation,  and  extin- 
guished in  my  bosom  all  desire  of  becoming  his 
rival,  it  filled  my  mind  with  malignant  joy.  "  If," 
said  I,  "  I  had  concealed  the  particulars  of  our 
nocturnal  conference,  I  might,  by  the  delusion  of 
vanity,  have  been  at  this  moment  desperately 
enamoured  with  a  black  face  under  a  mask  of  oint- 
ment, instead  of  being,  as  at  present,  upon  the  verge 
of  matrimony  with  the  charming  Violetta,  whose 
beauty  is  not  derived  from  her  father's  art." 

That  my  deserts  might  enable  me  to  gather  this 
fairest  flower  in  Palermo,  I  worked  night  and  day  in 
the  shop,  and  surprised  her  father  by  the  rapid 
progress  I  made  in  a  profession,  which  in  reality  has 
nothing  to  do  with  magic,  however  the  barbarous  and 
diabolical  names  of  the  drugs  and  compounds  may 
favour  the  idea. 

I  had  already  acquired  the  art  of  making  every 
species  of  composition,  when  two  prescriptions  were 
sent  in  from  Dr.  Ariscador,  a  Navarrois  physician, 
who  at  that  time  passed  for  a  second  Hippocrates  in 
Palermo.  There  was  not  a  baron,  a  count,  or  a 
marquis  that  would  die  contentedly  by  any  other 
hand.  These  prescriptions  were  calculated  to  pro- 
duce very  opposite  effects  ;  for  the  one  of  them  was 
intended  for  a  counsellor,  who  had  acquired  a  defluc- 
tion  of  the  lungs  by  elaborate  pleading ;  and  the 
other  for  a  divine,  who  had  contracted  a  violent 
pleurisy  by  running  too  precipitately  after  church 
preferment.  Having  carefully  mixed  the  drugs  and 
other  articles,  of  which  these  respective  medicines 
were  ordered  to  be  composed,  I  carried  them  to  tL^ 


124  THE  HISTORY  OF 

houses  of  the  two  patients ;  but  by  a  most  melan- 
choly mistake,  like  a  stupid  fellow  as  I  was,  I  acci- 
dentally delivered  the  potion  which  was  intended  for 
the  advocate  to  the  divine,  and  that  which  was 
intended  for  the  divine  to  the  advocate ;  and  still 
more  unfortunately,  I  did  not  recollect  that  I  had 
made  this  egregious  blunder,  until  the  patients  had 
drained  their  respective  phials  to  the  last  drop. 

Dexterous  as  I  may  be  at  concealing  truth  under 
a  varnish  of  falsehood,  I  could  not  excuse  this  gross 
and  dangerous  act  of  carelessness  even  to  myself; 
and  being  certain  that  both  these  unfortunate  men 
must  soon  unavoidably  be,  if  they  were  not  already, 
numbered  among  the  dead,  I  returned  home  in  the 
most  painful  agitation,  bitterly  lamenting  the  mis- 
fortune of  their  prescriptions  having  fallen  into  my 
hands.  An  old  and  hackneyed  practitioner  would 
have  continued  calmly  in  the  shop,  without  being  the 
least  embarrassed  by  the  mistake  he  had  made ;  but 
I  had  not  yet  had  sufficient  experience  in  pharmacy 
to  indurate  my  heart. 

I  was  so  perturbed  by  this  dreadful  event,  that 
Potoschi,  observing  my  chagrin,  asked  me  with  great 
concern  what  was  the  matter ;  and  urged  by  the 
compunction  I  felt,  I  candidly  confessed  the  crime 
into  which  my  negligence  had  betrayed  me.  Instead, 
however,  of  expressing  sorrow  or  commiseration  for 
this  fatal  disaster,  he  instantly  burst  into  a  fit  of 
laughter,  and  told  me  that  it  was  easy  to  be  seen,  by 
the  excess  of  my  affliction,  that  I  was  yet  a  mere 
novice  in  the  profession.  "  It  is  ridiculous,  my  dear 
child,"  continued  he,  "  to  feel  so  sensibly  the  common 
accidents  of  trade.  You  must  learn  not  to  take  such 
misfortunes  as  these  so  much  to  heart.     Are  man- 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  125 

kind,  and  especially  the  members  of  our  profession, 
infallible  ?  Is  it  not  a  common  saying,  that  such  a 
one  has  blundered  like  an  apothecary?  a  saying 
which  presupposes  that  we  frequently  make  mistakes. 
Believe  me  truly,"  added  he,  "  I  have  made  many 
worse  mistakes  in  the  course  of  my  life  ;  but  I  never 
thought  it  worth  while  to  go  to  Rome  to  confess 
them." 

"  But  tell  me,  Signor  Potoschi,"  said  I,  "  you  who 
know  all  the  properties  of  the  drugs,  tell  me  whether 
you  think  the  two  gentlemen  I  have  caused  to  take 
them,  be,  in  your  opinion,  alive  or  dead." 

"  I  know  nothing  about  that,"  replied  Potoschi  ; 
"  I  am  not  so  well  acquainted  with  the  properties  of 
drugs  as  to  be  certain  of  the  effects  they  may  pro- 
duce. But,  at  all  events,  do  not  permit  your  fears  to 
betray  your  guilt  ;  we  can  boldly  assert  that  we 
precisely  followed  the  direction  of  the  physician  in 
making  up  the  prescriptions,  and  then,  by  concealing 
the  change  that  has  been  made,  if  these  patients 
should  die,  which  I  confess  is  extremely  probable, 
Dr.  Ariscador  will  bear  the  whole  blame  ;  which, 
indeed,  is  but  common  justice  ;  for  if  they  should 
miraculously  live,  he  will,  of  course,  have  all  the 
honour." 

We  resolved  accordingly  to  place  these  two  vic- 
tims to  the  account  of  the  physician,  whose  reputa- 
tion, luckily  for  us,  very  much  favoured  our  design. 

The  ensuing  day,  Dr.  Ariscador  came  into  the 
shop,  with  visible  emotion,  to  announce,  as  we  con- 
ceived, the  sudden  death  of  his  unfortunate  patients; 
but,  on  the  contrary,  he  brought  us  the  most  agree- 
able news. 

"  My  friends,"  cried  he,  "  I  cannot  contain  my  joy, 


126  THE  HISTORY  OF 

or  rather  my  transport ;  the  two  last  prescriptions  I 
sent  you  ought  to  be  consecrated  in  the  temple  of 
^Esculapius,  as  two  grand  specifics  for  the  pleurisy 
and  a  defluction  from  the  lungs.  Can  you  credit 
what  I  tell  you  ?  Both  the  lawyer  and  the  divine 
had  no  sooner  taken  their  medicines  than  they  were 
almost  instantly  relieved.  They  slept  profoundly  the 
whole  night,  and  found  themselves,  when  they  awoke 
this  morning,  perfectly  recovered.  Oh,  unheard-of 
prodigy  !  The  fame  of  these  marvellous  cures 
already  spreads  like  wildfire  throughout  the  city. 
What  honours  shall  I  not  gain  in  having  so  rapidly 
subdued  two  such  mortal  diseases?  My  dear 
friends,"  continued  he,  "  you  ought  also  to  rejoice 
in  this  new  victory;  for  you  have  contributed 
towards  it  by  the  fidelity  with  which  you  prepared 
the  medicines  ;  and  a  portion  of  that  glory  which 
must  shine  with  so  much  lustre  upon  me,  will  be 
reflected,  in  some  degree,  upon  yourselves  !  " 

The  Doctor  was  so  overjoyed  at  the  idea  of  his 
extraordinary  success,  that  he  could  not  discontinue 
his  self-congratulations  upon  the  occasion  ;  while  we, 
who  were  in  the  secret,  with  difficulty  refrained  from 
laughing  in  his  face  ;  but  the  profound  veneration 
which  apothecaries  owe  to  the  more  exalted  charac- 
ters of  physicians,  saved  us  at  the  moment  from  the 
guilt  of  such  irreverence. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  127 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE  TRAGICAL  ACCIDENT  WHICH  FOLLOWED  THIS  LUDI- 
CROUS ADVENTURE,  AND  THE  EXTREME  PERIL  IN 
WHICH  IT  INVOLVED  BOTH  VANILLO  AND  POTOSCHI. 

THIS  event,  however,  was  soon  afterwards  followed 
by  another,  which  did  not  terminate  so  happily. 

The  Baroness  de  Conca,  being  suddenly  seized  mth 
a  violent  fit  of  illness,  sent  as  usual  for  the  celebrated 
Potoschi,  who,  not  being  able  to  discover  the  nature 
of  her  complaint,  called  in  Dr.  Ariscador  to  her 
assistance.  The  physician,  although  he  knew  as  little 
of  the  cause  of  her  complaint  as  the  apothecary,  ven- 
tured to  give  a  decided  opinion  of  it,  and  prescribed 
accordingly  certain  medicines,  which  Potoschi  care- 
fully prepared  with  his  own  hands,  and  gave  them  to 
me  to  carry  to  the  patient,  whose  appearance  on 
entering  her  room  filled  my  mind  with  apprehensions 
for  her  safety  ;  but  I  hoped  that  the  judgment  of  a 
young  apothecary  might  be  less  infallible  than  the 
prognostics  of  an  old  physician. 

The  mother  of  the  Baroness  was  kneeling  at  her 
bedside  in  great  agitation,  and  was  so  far  from  having 
an  opportunity  to  recollect  me,  that  she  never  once 
turned  her  eyes  from  the  object  of  her  attention.  I 
am  sure,  on  my  part,  that  if  I  had  not  known  it  was 
Blanche,  I  should  never  have  discovered  her  through 
the  slovenly  negligence  of  dress  in  which  she  appeared. 
Abandoned  entirelv  to  the  care  which  maternal  ten- 
derness  required  her  to  take  of  her  daughter,  she  had, 


128  THE  HISTORY  OF 

if  I  may  be  allowed  the  expression,  let  her  charms 
run  fallow,  and  showed  most  clearly  the  want  in  which 
she  stood  of  cur  pomade.  Approaching  the  patient, 
I  administered  the  medicine,  and  returned  immedi- 
ately home,  where  we  soon  received  information  that 
the  patient  having,  almost  immediately  after  the 
mixture  was  taken,  fallen  into  a  deep  sleep,  awaked 
in  a  short  time  in  shrieks  of  direful  agony,  and  at 
length  expired  in  her  mother's  arms. 

Both  Potoschi  and  myself  were  much  afflicted  by 
this  event ;  not  indeed  at  the  loss  of  the  patient,  but 
at  the  unpleasant  consequences  that  might  possibly 
result  from  it.  The  public  voice  is  always  ready  to 
decry  the  profession,  when  a  patient  dies  immediately 
upon  the  application  of  the  medicine  ;  and  we  were 
extremely  apprehensive  for  our  credit  with  the  world. 
The  first  arrow,  indeed,  is  always  aimed  at  the  phy- 
sician, but  it  is  seldom  that  the  apothecary  escapes 
unhurt.  We  should  indeed  have  been  happy  if  the 
loss  of  reputation  had  been  all  which  threatened  us 
upon  this  occasion  ;  but  the  tide  of  our  misfortunes  ran 
to  a  higher  mark  ;  and  on  the  ensuing  day  we  were 
both  arrested  by  order  of  the  Viceroy,  and  conducted 
to  separate  prisons,  where  we  were  informed  of  the 
cause  of  our  arrest. 

The  body  of  the  Baroness,  it  seems,  had  been 
opened  by  order  of  the  Viceroy,  and  it  clearly  ap- 
peared that  poison  had  been  the  cause  of  her  death. 
His  Excellency,  informed  of  this  fact,  and  being 
anxious  to  discover  the  perpetrator  of  this  horrid  deed, 
had  thought  it  proper  to  secure  the  persons  who  pre- 
pared and  administered  the  potion.  The  following  day 
we  were  both  examined.  However  innocent  a  prisoner 
accused  of  so  diabolical  a  crime  may  be,  the  testi- 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  129 

mony  of  a  clear  conscience  is  scarcely  sufficient 
entirely  to  quell  the  perturbations  of  his  mind,  and 
enable  him  to  appear  in  the  presence  of  his  judge 
with  tranquillity  and  indifference.  Potoschi,  when 
under  examination,  proved  the  truth  of  this  observa- 
tion ;  for,  instead  of  attesting  my  innocence  while  he 
was  justifying  his  own,  he  assured  the  court  that  he 
had  made  up  the  prescription  with  fidelity,  but  that  he 
could  not  answer  for  my  having  carried  the  identical 
medicine  to  the  patient.  It  is  true,  that  on  my 
examination  I  returned  him  the  same  compliment, 
by  asseverating,  in  the  most  positive  manner,  that  I 
had  delivered  the  very  same  medicine  he  had  pre- 
pared, but  that  I  could  not  answer  whether  he  had 
used  the  drugs  which  the  physician  had  prescribed. 
Thus  each  of  us  endeavoured  to  seek  safety  by  insinu- 
ating the  other's  guilt. 

The  Viceroy,  who  was  very  anxious  to  develop  the 
mystery  of  this  affair,  being  dissatisfied  with  our 
depositions,  and  conceiving  that  by  taking  an  exami- 
nation himself,  he  might,  by  the  subtlety  of  his  ques- 
tions, draw  from  us  the  secret  he  wished  to  know, 
came  to  the  prison,  and  ordered  us  to  be  brought 
before  him.  Having  never  seen  me  since  the  day  of 
my  exile  from  the  palace,  or  even  heard  what  was 
become  of  me,  his  astonishment,  when  I  appeared 
before  him  in  the  council-chamber,  is  not  to  be 
expressed. 

"  How  !  is  it  you,  Vanillo  ?  "  he  exclaimed  ;  "  is  it 
you,  unhappy  youth,  who  have  deprived  the  Baroness 
of  her  life  ?  " 

He  immediately  ordered  every  person,  even  the 
apothecary  himself,  to  retire  from  the  room  ;  and 
when  we  were  alone,  he  continued  his  discourse  to  me 

I 


130  THE  HISTORY  OF 

in  these  words : — "  You  know  the  reasons  which 
induce  me  to  avenge  the  death  of  this  lady,  and 
perhaps  are  acquainted  with  the  concealed  villain  who 
has  taken  her  life.  Name  him  instantly,  and  a  free 
pardon  shall  be  your  reward." 

I  calmly  replied,  "  that  if  the  Baroness  had  really 
been  poisoned,  she  must  have  been  poisoned  before  I 
administered  the  medicine  ;  that  I  had  not  devoted 
my  time  to  the  study  of  pharmacy  for  the  purpose  of 
poisoning  people  ;  and  that  I  was  totally  ignorant  of 
the  cause  of  her  death." 

"Since  mercy  will  not  induce  you  to  reveal  this 
secret,"  exclaimed  the  Viceroy,  "  we  will  try  whether 
severity  will  not  conquer  your  silence." 

Alarmed  by  this  threat,  and  as  if  I  had  been  upon 
the  point  of  receiving  the  torture,  I  threw  myself  at 
his  knees.  "  Sire,"  cried  I,  in  a  flood  ci"  tears,  "  take 
pity  on  your  unhappy  page.  Can  you,  who  are  the 
protector  of  innocence,  condemn  to  cruel  torments 
one  who  can  give  you  no  information  ?  If  you  were 
to  cut  me  into  pieces  you  would  not  be  one  step 
forwarder.     Can  I  tell  you  what  I  do  not  know  ?" 

Happily  for  me  I  had  a  judge  whose  penetration 
was  profound  ;  he  saw  that  I  was  not  guilty;  and  the 
conversation  he  afterwards  had  with  Potoschi  con- 
vinced him,  that  although  the  medicine  we  prepared 
might  have  been  the  final  cause  of  her  death,  we  at 
least  were  not  the  poisoners;  but  although  he  no 
longer  threatened  me  with  the  torture,  he  gave  no 
orders  for  my  enlargement ;  and  I  and  the  apothecary 
were  continued  in  prison  for  the  longer  space  of  fifteen 
days,  at  the  enci  of  which  we  were  set  at  liberty. 

Resuming  the  business  of  the  shop,  our  attention 
was  principally  occupied  by  the  ladies  who  resorted 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  131 

to  this  fountain  of  youth  and  beauty,  among  whom 
Blanche  was  not  the  least  frequent ;  tor  Potoschi  con- 
tinued to  administer  to  her  his  lotion  and  pomade  in 
great  quantities. 

This  lady  one  day  held  a  conversation  with  him 
which  must  not  be  silently  passed  over.  "  Signor 
Potoschi,"  said  she,  "  you  cannot  conceive  the  mor- 
tification I  feel  for  the  sufferings  you  endured  on 
account  of  my  daughter's  death.  If  the  Viceroy  had 
followed  my  advice,  you  would  have  avoided  the  igno- 
miny of  so  odious  and  unfounded  an  accusation.  The 
Baroness,  it  is  true,  was  poisoned  ;  but  what  occasion 
had  he  to  give  himself  so  much  trouble  to  discover 
the  perpetrator  of  the  crime  ?  He  need  only  to  have 
recollected  the  young  Circassian,  of  whom  he  was 
once  enamoured,  and  who  died  a  violent  death.  Her 
murder  was  attributed  to  the  jealousy  of  his  wife,  and 
he  misrht  have  found  at  the  same  source  the  assassin 
of  my  daughter.  The  deed  was  perpetrated  at  the 
instigation  of  the  Duchess,  by  means  of  a  female 
domestic,  who  left  my  service  three  days  afterwards. 
The  Duke,"  continued  Blanche,  "  is  now  so  completely 
convinced  of  this  fact,  that  he  has  dropped  all  further 
inquiry,  lest  he  should  learn  more  than  he  wishes  to 
know."  Certain  it  is,  that  all  investigation  into  this 
affair  sunk  very  suddenly  to  rest. 

A  man  who  is  discharged  from  prison,  although 
completely  purged  of  the  crime  he  was  falsely  accused 
of,  cannot  avoid  thinking  that  the  world  squints  at 
him  with  an  awkward  eye.  At  least  I  imagined 
people  did  so  at  me.  The  idea  sunk  so  deeply  into 
my  mind,  that  I  could  not  live  in  Palermo  with  any 
pleasure.  To  complete  my  disgust,  it  was  only 
necessary  for  me  to  lose  the  affection  of  Violetta,  for 


1 32  THE  HISTORY  OF 

whom  I  entertained  a  real  regard  ;  and  in  a  short 
time  I  had  good  reason  to  be  dissatisfied  with  her 
conduct. 

A  young  officer  of  the  Inquisition  became  my  rival, 
and,  happily  for  me,  rendered  his  addresses  agreeable 
to  Violetta ;  I  say  happily  for  me,  for  if  she  had 
unfortunately  given  me  the  preference,  my  rival,  in 
revenge,  might  easily  have  procured  me  a  place  in 
one  of  the  dungeons  of  the  Inquisition,  where  I  might 
possibly  have  remained  until  this  hour. 

I  showed  upon  this  occasion  that  I  was  one  of  those 
pertinacious  lovers  who  resolve  to  surmount  every 
obstacle.  The  moment  I  discovered  that  Violetta 
was  inclined  to  sacrifice  me  to  her  new  gallant,  I 
consigned  her  and  all  the  drugs  in  her  father's  shop 
to  the  devil ;  and  without  bidding  adieu  to  any  person, 
I  repaired  to  the  port,  where,  rinding  a  Genoese 
vessel  ready  to  depart  for  Leghorn,  I  took  my  passage 
on  board  her,  and  quitted  Palermo. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  I33 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

VANILLO,  ON  HIS  PASSAGE  TO  LEGHORN,  GAINS  THE 
FRIENDSHIP  OF  A  YOUNG  GENTLEMAN,  WHO  CONDUCTS 
HIM  TO  PISA THE  UNION  IN  WHICH  THEY  LIVED  TO- 
GETHER, AND   THE  CAUSE  OF  THEIR  SEPARATION. 

HAVING  no  particular  reason  for  going  to  Leghorn 
rather  than  to  any  other  place,  but  being  unable, 
after  the  repeated  mortifications  I  had  received,  to 
reside  any  longer  at  Palermo,  my  only  object  was  a 
change  of  scene.  During  the  voyage,  I  formed  an 
acquaintance  with  a  young  gentleman  from  Pisa, 
whose  name  was  Ferrairi,  and  who  was  then  return- 
ing home  from  a  visit  he  had  been  making  to  his 
relations  at  Montreal,  but  particularly  to  an  aunt 
whose  wealth  he  expected  to  inherit. 

As  the  honorary  page  of  a  Viceroy  might  fairly  put 
himself  upon  an  equality  with  a  private  gentleman,  I 
engaged  in  easy  and  familiar  conversation  with  my 
new  associate,  who  soon  convinced  me  that  he  pos- 
sessed an  excellent  understanding.  Mutually  pleased 
with  each  other's  manners,  a  warm  attachment  im- 
mediately took  place;  and,  to  cement  our  rising 
friendship,  we  interchanged  assurances  of  esteem  and 
confidence,  in  which  it  was  impossible  that  he  could 
be  more  sincere  on  his  part  than  I  was  on  mine. 
Conscious,  however,  that  gentlemen  always  despise 
persons  of  low  and  vulgar  extraction,  it  was  not  with- 
out reason  that  I  boldly  assumed  with  Ferrairi  the 
character  of  a  man  of  family ;  for  had  I  acquainted 


i34  THE  HISTORY  OF 

him  with  my  real  condition,  he  would  probably  have 
disdained  to  converse  with  me  ;  but,  taking  me  for 
the  descendant  of  a  noble  stock,  he  yielded  without 
the  least  restraint  to  the  predilection  he  felt  in  my 
favour. 

On  our  arrival  at  Leghorn,  we  found  it  impossible 
to  quit  each  other's  company.  "  We  will  not  separate," 
said  Ferrairi ;  "  you  shall  go  with  me  to  Pisa,  where 
you  shall  continue  as  long  as  you  please;"  and 
he  repeated  the  invitation  with  such  pressing  impor- 
tunity, that  I  found  it  impossible  to  refuse  his  re- 
quest. We  accordingly  proceeded  together  towards 
Pisa,  where  he  assured  me  I  should  find  a  comfort- 
able residence,  which  he  would  render  as  agreeable 
as  possible  by  the  variety  of  pleasures  he  proposed  to 
procure;  and,  to  do  him  justice,  he  took  so  much 
pains  to  render  my  visit  pleasant  and  satisfactory, 
that  I  passed  a  month  at  his  mansion  with  infinite 
delight.  Fearful  of  trespassing  any  longer  on  his 
time,  I  announced  my  intention  to  depart ;  but  instead 
of  suffering  me  to  leave  him,  he  reproached  me  with 
impatience  to  abandon  a  friend,  who,  he  hoped  I  was 
convinced,  entertained  for  me  the  most  unfeigned 
affection.  "  Why  should  you  quit  me  ?  "  said  he. 
"  You  have  frequently  assured  me  that  you  are  happy 
in  my  company;  I  am  equally  so  in  yours;  and  I 
possess  a  fortune  sufficiently  ample  to  maintain  us 
both.  Continue,  therefore,  your  abode  in  this  house; 
and  we  will  live  together  with  fraternal  fondness." 

Penetrated  by  these  affectionate  expressions,  I 
determined,  from  feelings  of  gratitude,  to  live  entirely 
at  his  expense,  since  he  so  ardently  requested  it.  I 
was  even  forced,  for  the  sake  of  quiet,  to  suffer  him 
to  clothe  me  from  head  to  feet  at  his  own  cost.     In 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  135 

anort,  to  accommodate  myself  to  his  disposition,  I 
had  the  complaisance  to  submit  to  all  his  inclinations. 
The  acquisition  of  so  firm  a  friend  obliterated  all 
recollection  of  my  misfortunes  from  my  mind ;  or 
rather,  I  considered,  from  the  present  situation  of  rny 
affairs,  my  fortune  made;  although  mature  reflection 
might  have  convinced  me  that  a  friendship  so  warm 
and  urgent  is  seldom  of  long  duration. 

While  we  were  thus  enjoying  the  pleasures  of 
mutual  friendship,  Ferrairi  became  deeply  enamoured 
with  a  young  lady  of  high  birth,  great  beauty,  and 
exemplary  virtue,  who  resided  in  the  neighbourhood  ; 
and  this  passion  proved  in  the  end  fatal  to  our  friend- 
ship. 

The  lovely  Engracia,  for  that  was  the  name  of  the 
lady,  had  engaged  his  affections  in  so  violent  a  degree, 
that  all  his  former  protestations,  though  most  solemnly 
made,  of  continuing  in  a  state  of  celibacy,  vanished 
from  his  recollection ;  and,  after  paying  his  addresses 
to  her  for  a  short  time,  they  were  married.  This 
change  of  situation,  however,  was  so  far  from  decreas- 
ing his  attentions  to  me,  even  from  the  first  moments 
of  his  marriage,  that,  on  the  contrary,  his  affection 
seemed  to  increase,  and  he  requested  his  wife  to 
entertain  the  same  respect  for  me  as  for  himself. 

"  Engracia,"  said  he  to  her  in  my  presence,  u  Gon- 
zales is  my  particular  friend;  if  I  am  dear  to  you, 
show  him,  by  ihe  kindest  attention,  that  you  are  will- 
ing to  adopt  the  same  sentiments  which  I  entertain  in 
his  favour." 

Engracia,  to  please  her  husband,  not  only  promised, 
but  kept  her  word.  She  omitted  no  occasion  of  say- 
ing the  handsomest  things  of  me,  and  of  giving  me 
proofs  of  her  civility  and  attention.     But  still  there 


136  THE  HISTORY  OF 

appeared  to  be  something  in  her  manners  that  was 
not  natural.  Jealous  of  the  confidence  her  husband 
reposed  in  me,  she  hated  me  secretly  in  her  heart; 
and  at  length  her  aversion  attained  to  such  maturity, 
that  she  resolved,  at  all  events,  to  drive  me  from 
Pisa. 

The  scheme  she  adopted  to  carry  this  resolution 
into  effect  is  of  too  singular  a  kind  to  be  omitted. 

"  Signor  Gonzales,"  said  she  to  me  one  day  when  we 
were  alone,  "  it  is  necessary  that  I  should  confide  to 
your  good  sense  a  secret  in  which  you  are  materially 
interested,  and  on  which  depends  the  future  happiness 
of  my  life.  I  feel  a  growing  inclination  to  love  you. 
It  alarms  me.  I  have  endeavoured  in  vain  to  conquer 
my  feelings.  You  fatally  triumph  over  all  the  efforts 
which  a  sense  of  virtue  and  duty  have  induced  me  to 
make  against  them.  It  is  from  you  alone  that  I  can 
hope  for  safety.  Fly  instantly  from  a  house,  the 
tranquillity  of  which  your  presence  destroys.  I  con- 
jure you  by  the  rights  of  hospitality,  and  still  more 
by  the  obligations  of  that  friendship  which  you  owe 
to  my  husband,  fly  from  me.  The  avowal  I  have 
made  to  you  of  my  weakness  commands  you  to 
quit  Pisa  immediately ;  for  I  am  sure  you  have  too 
much  integrity  to  run  any  risk  of  dishonouring  your 
friend. 

Duped  by  this  artifice,  I  really  fancied  that  she  was 
enamoured  with  my  merit,  and  that,  to  prevent  the 
consequences  of  this  too  tender  passion,  she  felt  it 
her  duty  to  request  me  to  retire.  I  should,  however 
if  the  affection  I  felt  for  her  husband  had  not  been  as 
sincere  as  it  was  ardent,  most  probably  have  followed 
the  example  of  Paris;  but,  instead  of  running  away 
with  my  charming  hostess,  I  bid  her  an  eternal  adieu. 


VAMILLO  GONZALES.  137 

Escaping  unperceived  from  the  house  the  ensuing 
morning,  I  left  her  to  fabricate  such  a  story  to 
Ferrairi,  upon  the  subject  of  my  departure,  as  she 
would  think  most  proper. 

But  I  have  since  been  informed,  that,  in  order  to 
afford  him  some  consolation,  she  told  him  that  I  had 
fallen  in  love  with  her — that  I  had  declared  to  her 
my  guilty  passion  ;  and  that,  upon  her  refusing  to 
comply  with  my  desires,  and  threatening  to  reveal 
the  matter  to  her  husband,  I  had  decamped  in  the 
vexation  of  having  made  a  fruitless  attempt  upon 
her  virtue. 


138  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER  XX. 

VANILLO  MEETS,  THREE  MILES  FROM  PISA,  WITH  TWO 
GENOESE  WHO  WERE  GOING  TO  FLORENCE — HE  yOlNS 
COMPANY  WITH  THEM,  AND  IS  INDUCED  BY  CURIOSITY 
TO  VISIT  A  CELEBRATED  NECROMANCER. 

DIRECTING  my  course  towards  Florence,  mounted 
upon  a  scurvy  pack-horse,  and  extremely  contented 
with  my  person,  when  I  reflected  that  women  drove 
me  from  their  presence  to  avoid  the  danger  of  loving 
me,  I  overtook,  before  I  had  proceeded  three  miles, 
two  travellers  much  better  mounted  than  I  was,  with 
whom  I  entered  into  conversation ;  and  being  informed 
that  they  were  going  to  Florence,  I  requested  per- 
mission to  accompany  them  ;  to  which  they  acceded 
with  the  usual  expressions  of  politeness ;  and  we 
became,  accordingly,  fellow-travellers  on  the  road. 

We  took  up  our  abode  for  the  night  at  San  Miniato, 
at  an  inn  extremely  well  provided  with  every  species 
of  accommodation  ;  and  the  landlord,  who,  having 
lived  for  some  time  at  Parma  with  a  German  cardinal, 
was  an  excellent  cook,  providing  us  an  excellent 
supper,  we  indulged  ourselves  in  great  gaiety  and 
good-humour  during  the  repast ;  for  I  was  in  fine 
spirits,  and  my  companions,  on  their  parts,  convinced 
me  that  they  were  no  enemies  to  mirth  and  pleasantry. 
They  informed  me  that  they  were  Genoese. 

"I  am  a  travelling  jeweller,"  said  one  of  them,  "and 
I  have  unfortunately  a  wife  who  gives  me  every  reason 
to  complain  of  her  conduct." 

"  I  have  the  happiness  to  be  a  bachelor,"  said  the 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  g>, 

other ;  "  but  my  father,  who  is  extremely  old,  ex- 
tremely rich,  and  extremely  avaricious,  scorns  to  have 
an  objection  to  die;  for  he  enjoys,  notwithstanding 
his  old  age,  such  astonishing  health,  that  when  he 
leaves  the  world  I  shall  have  no  other  occasion  for 
his  money  than  to  buy  spectacles  and  crutches." 

The  landlord,  who  happened  to  be  present  during 
this  conversation,  addressed  the  Genoese.  "  If  you 
are  anxious,  gentlemen,  to  know  when  the  one  will 
be  released  from  his  wife,  and  the  other  from  his 
fatJier,  there  is  in  the  vicinity  of  this  place  a  learned 
necromancer  who  will  inform  you." 

On  our  bursting  into  a  fit  of  laughter  at  this  idea, 
the  landlord  assumed  a  very  serious  countenance,  and 
gravely  assured  us  that  the  magician  he  spoke  of  was 
a  very  profound  cabalist ;  and  he  pledged  himself  to 
name  more  than  twenty  gentlemen  who  had  consulted 
him  and  experienced  the  truth  of  his  extraordinary 
predictions.  "For  example,"  said  he:  "only  six 
months  ago,  an  old  merchant,  who  had  a  young  wife 
whom  he  thought  barren,  consulted  this  able  man 
whether  he  was  doomed  to  die  without  children ; 
the  necromancer  assured  him  that  his  wife  would 
be  brought  to-bed  within  the  year;  and  about  eight 
days  ago  she  actually  produced  him  a  son." 

This  story,  the  accomplishment  of  which  was  pro- 
bably produced  by  some  young  friend  to  the  old 
gentleman,  afforded  us  great  diversion.  One  of  the 
Genoese,  however,  who  was  fond  of  the  marvellous, 
and  very  desirous  to  converse  with  the  cabalist,  asked 
the  landlord  the  place  of  his  residence. 

"Sir,"  replied  the  landlord,  "  he  resides  in  a  cave 
about  two  miles  from  this  house,  near  the  mountains, 
on  the  road  to  Castellina." 


Ho  "  THE  HISTORY  OF 

"Gentlemen,"  replied  the  Genoese,  "although  I 
have  little  faith  in  necromancy,  I  acknowledge  I 
should  feel  some  pleasure  in  visiting  this  magician." 

"  I  have  no  objection,"  said  the  other,  "  suppose  we 
gratify  our  inclinations." 

"  And  1  will  bear  you  company,"  exclaimed  I ; 
"  for  I  would  not  have  you  conceive  that  I  have  no 
curiosity  to  see  so  singular  a  personage." 

We  accordingly  resolved  to  take  a  guide  the  en- 
suing morning  to  the  cell  of  the  magician;  a  resolution 
we  did  not  fail  to  execute.  After  travelling  for  some 
time  through  many  devious  ways,  we  arrived  at  a  high 
and  broken  rock,  at  the  foot  of  which  we  discovered 
the  mouth  of  a  cavern,  closely  secured  by  an  enormous 
door,  against  which  we  knocked  loudly  and  demanded 
entrance  ;  and  having  waited  for  some  time  in  silent 
expectation,  heard  at  length  from  within  a  sepulchral 
kind  of  voice  exclaim,  "Who  is  there?"  On  reply- 
ing that  we  came  to  consult  THE  ORACLE,  the  door 
immediately  flew  open,  and  the  first  object  that 
presented  itself  to  our  sight  was  the  person  of  this 
famous  necromancer.  Figure  to  yourself  a  man  at 
least  six  feet  high,  dressed  in  a  white  robe,  upon 
which  were  painted  in  red  colours  all  the  signs  of 
the  zodiac.  His  head  was  covered  with  a  large  cap, 
turned  up  with  the  skin  of  a  wolf,  and  peaked,  by 
way  of  crest,  with  a  tiger's  head  ;  a  cluster  of  arti- 
ficial snakes  and  vipers  crawled  around  his  shoulders 
instead  of  hair.  In  short,  his  whole  dress  was  calcu- 
lated to  give  him  a  very  terrifying  aspect. 

The  two  Genoese  addressed  him,  saying,  that  upon 
the  fame  he  had  acquired  as  a  profound  cabalist,  they 
had  come  a  long  distance  to  consult  him  upon  affairs 
of  high  importance  to  their  happiness. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  141 

The  necromancer  replied  that  they  were  mis- 
informed of  his  character.  But  the  gentlemen,  by 
means  of  entreaties  mixed  with  encomiums  upon 
the  known  extent  of  his  capacity,  forced  him  at 
length  to  confess  that  he  was  deeply  versed  in  the 
occult  science  of  cabalism.  The  Genoese,  however, 
seemed  to  have  gained  very  little  advantage  by 
this  acknowledgment ;  for  he  told  them  that  he  never 
exercised  his  art  to  gratify  curiosity,  but  only  to 
serve  those  who  had  a  real  occasion  for  it.  They 
accordingly  protested,  without  the  least  hesitation, 
that  they  were  not  drawn  to  his  abode  for  the  sake 
of  indulging  any  curiosity;  and  as  this  assurance 
precluded  the  magician  from  all  further  objection 
to  exercise  his  art,  he  immediately  began  by  in- 
sinuating the  vast  extent  of  his  powers,  and  by 
showing  them  many  rich  jewels,  which  he  said  had 
been  given  to  him  by  persons  to  whom  he  had 
communicated  the  events  of  futurity. 

While  my  companions  and  the  magician  were 
entertaining  themselves  with  each  other,  I  examined, 
with  critical  attention,  the  inside  of  the  cavern,  which 
was  crammed  with  objects  that  could  scarcely  be 
looked  at  without  alarm.  In  one  corner  was  a  lion 
with  fiery  eyes  and  a  tremendous  mouth  ;  in  another, 
a  furious  tiger  with  distended  claws,  as  if  ready  to 
tear  his  prey;  in  another,  a  winged  dragon,  eager  to 
pounce  upon  its  beholders.  All  these  figures,  though 
made  of  osiers  covered  with  painted  pasteboards, 
were  so  well  executed,  that  even  the  live  animals 
they  represented  could  not  have  inspired  greater 
terror.  As  it  was  impossible  to  look  on  them 
without  trembling,  they  contributed  to  impose  a 
belief  on  the  mind,  that  the  master  of  the  cavern 


342  THE  HISTORY  OF 

was  a  great  magician  ;  and  confirmed  my  compa- 
nions, whose  wonder  he  had  excited  by  a  recital  of 
many  supernatural  occurrences,  in  the  truth  of  that 
opinion  ;  but  I  suspended  my  judgment  upon  this 
occasion,  in  order  that  I  might  profit  by  experience. 

The  necromancer,  surprised  at  seeing  me  examine 
the  surrounding  objects  with  such  cool  attention, 
inquired  of  the  Genoese  why  I  seemed  to  avoid  his 
conversation ;  they  replied,  that  I  had  no  particular 
reason  for  it,  but  was  only  indulging  the  common 
curiosity  of  a  Spaniard. 

It  was  with  great  chagrin  that  the  necromancer 
heard  I  was  a  Spaniard.  "  I  do  not  like,"  said  he, 
"  to  perform  my  operations  before  people  of  that 
nation ;  they  are  for  the  greater  part  infidels  and 
free-thinkers,  who  treat  us  as  impostors." 

"  There  is  no  rule  without  an  exception,"  replied 
one  of  the  Genoese;  "  we  will  answer  that  this  gentle- 
man, real  Spaniard  as  he  is,  is  a  great  admirer  of 
those  superior  beings  who  possess  the  art  of  forcing 
inferior  agents  to  obey  their  commands.  There  is  no 
despiser  of  your  art  here,  we  assure  you  ;  and  you  may 
boldly  proceed  in  his  presence  to  perform  your  feats." 

The  magician,  no  longer  hesitating  to  exhibit 
before  me,  called  loudly  on  an  agent,  whose  as- 
sistance was  necessary  to  him.  A  figure,  still  more 
horrible  than  his  own,  immediately  appeared  in  view. 
These  two  monsters  obliged  us  to  retire  to  an  inner 
excavation  more  gloomy  than  the  first,  in  the  middle 
of  which  we  observed  a  large  globe  of  glass  fixed 
upon  a  marble  table.  On  approaching  the  table  we 
observed  all  the  letters  of  the  alphabet  painted  in 
large  characters  on  virgin  parchment  round  the 
globe;  but  what  particularly  attracted  our  attention 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  143 

was  a  kind  of  dwarf  figure  all  on  fire  within  side,  and 
which  the  magician  told  us  was  the  subtle  spirit  he 
consulted.  The  eyes  of  this  infernal  agent,  who 
held  his  right  arm  extended,  resembled  two  burning 
coals. 

The  necromancer  addressing  his  discourse  to  this 
figure  in  a  solemn  and  elevated  tone  of  voice: 
"Uriel,  proud  spirit,"  said  he,  "whom  I  have  sub- 
dued by  the  power  of  my  enchantments,  I  command 
you  instantly  to  satisfy  these  gentlemen,  and  fulfil 
their  desires.  Are  you  disposed  to  obey  me  with 
alacrity,  or  must  I  employ  the  terrible  incantation 
which  you  cannot  resist?"  Uriel  remained  silent. 
But  the  enchanter,  who  without  doubt  read  the 
thoughts  of  the  demon  from  the  increasing  fire  of 
his  eyes,  said  to  the  Genoese  :  "  Gentlemen,  your 
desires  will  be  gratified  ;  the  proud  spirit  submits  to 
the  power  of  my  conjuration.  You  have  only  to  say 
one  after  another  what  you  wish  to  know,  and  he 
will  inform  you." 

"  I  have  an  old  father,  extremely  rich,  and  ex- 
tremely avaricious,"  said  one  of  the  Genoese,  "  and 
I  am  impatient  to  become  his  heir;  therefore  com- 
mand your  spirit  to  tell  me  how  much  longer  my 
inclination  will  be  disappointed." 

"  This  question  shall  be  instantly  answered,"  re- 
plied the  cabalist,  who,  immediately  taking  up  a 
large  glove  into  which  he  put  his  right  hand,  and 
passing  it  through  the  top  of  the  globe,  touched  the 
figure,  saying,  "  Come,  quick,  make  haste."  Uriel 
moved  obedient  to  the  touch,  and  pointed  the  finger 
of  his  extended  arm  to  one  of  the  letters.  The 
magician  immediately  pulled  off  the  glove  to  in- 
scribe the  letter  upon  a  sheet  of  paper  which  lay  on 


144  THB  HISTORY  OF 

the  table,  and  again  putting  it  on,  retouched  the 
dwarf,  who  with  great  docility  turned  about  and 
pointed  to  another  letter.  The  enchanter  repeated 
this  operation  ten  or  twelve  times,  and  then  exa- 
mining the  letters  written  on  the  paper,  assured 
the  Genoese  that  his  father  had  only  three  months 
to  live :  a  discovery  which  afforded  excessive  joy 
to  this  affectionate  son.  The  same  ceremony  was 
performed  with  respect  to  the  question  propounded 
by  the  other  Genoese,  who  flattered  himself  that 
he  should  not  leave  the  cavern  with  a  prediction 
less  favourable  than  that  of  his  companion  ;  and  in 
effect  he  had  the  satisfaction  to  hear  that  his  wife 
was  at  that  moment  at  the  point  of  death.  But, 
unhappily  for  the  gentlemen,  the  predictions  which 
afforded  them  so  much  pleasure  were  the  produc- 
tion of  an  imposture,  which  I  discovered  in  the 
following  manner. 

The  magician  having  succeeded  in  his  operations 
rather  by  the  credulity  of  the  Genoese  than  the 
prescience  of  his  dwarf,  was  silently  enjoying,  like  a 
priest  of  Delphos,  the  pleasure  of  his  deceit,  when  it 
came  into  my  head,  I  knew  not  how  or  why,  to  take 
up  the  glove  with  which  he  had  touched  his  spirit 
Uriel;  and,  on  examination,  I  found  at  the  end  of 
the  forefinger  an  extraordinary  kind  of  substance. 
"What  is  this!"  cried  I;  "is  there  not  a  loadstone 
in  the  end  of  this  finger  ? " 

The  magician,  who  had  not  seen  me  take  up  the 
glove,  appeared  greatly  troubled  at  this  question, 
and  turning  with  confusion  and  dismay  to  my  com- 
panions, said,  "  Gentlemen,  was  it  without  reason 
that  I  suspected  this  Spaniard?" 

"  We  will  find  out  the  truth  of  this  matter,"  said 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  145 

they;  and  accordingly,  taking  up  the  glove,  they 
found  a  loadstone  in  one  of  the  fingers.  The  sorrow 
they  felt  on  being  disappointed  in  the  truth  of  their 
predictions,  did  not  prevent  them  from  bursting  into 
a  fit  of  laughter  on  this  discovery  ;  and  the  pretended 
cabalist,  perceiving  himself  detected,  changed  his 
tone,  and  candidly  acknowledged  the  deceit.  The 
proud  spirit  Uriel  we  discovered  was  nothing  more 
than  an  artificial  figure  formed  of  oziers,  with  an  arm 
covered  with  a  plate  of  steel,  which  being  attracted 
by  the  loadstone  in  the  glove,  was  made  to  point  to 
any  of  the  letters  round  the  globe.  But  he  suppli- 
cated us  not  to  divulge  the  secret,  saying,  in  order  to 
induce  us  to  comply  with  this  request,  that  we  ought 
to  consider  him  in  the  light  of  a  common  juggler,  or 
fortune-teller,  who  did  no  real  injury  to  mankind; 
that  although,  in  truth,  he  deceived  the  credulous,  he 
onlv  predicted  to  them  the  most  agreeable  events  ; 
that  in  general  they  were  perfectly  satisfied  with  his 
conduct;  that,  in  short,  his  oracles  were  sometimes 
accomplished,  which  supported  his  reputation,  and 
enabled  him  to  live.  Promising  the  impostor  to 
keep  the  secret,  we  left  him  in  his  cavern,  extremely 
mortified  that  he  could  not  include  us  in  the  cata- 
logue of  his  dupes  ;  then  taking  the  road  to  Empoli, 
we  entertained  ourselves  with  pleasant  observations 
on  the  spirit  Uriel,  and  the  fools  who  rely  on  such 
prophets,  and  arrived  the  following  day  at  Florence. 


K 


146 ~~  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

THE  ARRIVAL,   OF   VANILLO  AT  FLORENCE THE  EMPLOY' 

ME  NT    THAT  WAS  OFFERED    TO    HIM AND    THE  SER- 
VICE HE  RENDERED  DON  CHRISTOVAL. 

On  our  arrival  at  Florence,  we  hired  lodgings  at  a 
celebrated  hotel  in  the  vicinity  of  the  royal  palace. 
In  a  few  days  afterwards,  my  two  companions  left 
me  to  return  home.  We  separated  in  the  usual 
way,  by  mutual  expressions  of  regret,  and  by  mu- 
tually forgetting  each  other  in  ten  minutes  after- 
wards. 

The  hotel  was  in  general  frequented  by  men  of 
fashion  and  consequence;  but  it  was  also  occasion- 
ally visited  by  characters  of  a  different  description. 

One  day,  just  as  the  servants  were  bringing  in  the 
dinner,  a  person  handsomely  dressed  entered  the 
room,  and  took  his  seat  at  the  table.  During  the 
repast,  I  observed  that  he  frequently  fixed  his  eyes 
very  attentively  upon  me  ;  and  at  length,  on  look- 
ing at  him  attentively  in  return,  I  recollected  that 
he  was  one  of  the  passengers  who  had  sailed  with 
me  from  Palermo  to  Leghorn.  "  I  believe,  sir," 
said  he  to  me,  when  the  cloth  was  drawn,  "  you  and 
I  have  travelled  together  upon  the  seas."  I  told 
him  that  I  recollected  it  well ;  and  we  entered  by 
degrees  into  a  long  and  intimate  conversation.  He 
informed  me  that  his  name  was  Roger  Matadori, 
a  native  of  the  village  of  Aderno,  in  the  valley  of 
Demona,  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Gibel  in  Sicily;  that 
he  passed  his  time  in   the  delights  which   Florence 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  147 

afforded,  with  a  few  select  friends  of  his  own  dis- 
position ;  and  that  it  would  make  him  extremely 
happy  if  I  would  partake  of  the  pleasures  of  their 
society.  His  manners  were  mild,  and  his  counte- 
nance so  engagingly  open,  that  I  thought  I  could 
not  do  better  than  to  join  his  company.  He  ac- 
cording!)- introduced  me  to  two  young  gentlemen 
of  fashionable  appearance,  who  received  me  with 
open  arms,  and  invited  me  to  all  their  parties  of 
pleasure.  They  introduced  me  to  some  of  the  best 
houses  in  the  city;  induced  me  to  visit  the  most 
beautiful  women  of  their  acquaintance ;  and  drained 
me  of  my  pistoles  by  a  variety  of  expensive  plea- 
sures, without  giving  me  the  least  reason  to  think 
they  intended  to  empty  my  purse  ;  for  in  all  our  par- 
ties each  of  us  paid  our  equal  shares  ;  but  they  had 
resources,  and  I  had  none;  and  my  mind  became 
dejected  in  proportion  as  my  funds  decreased. 

Matadori,  having  observed  the  depression  of  my 
spirits,  said  to  me  one  day,  "  Signor  Gonzales,  you 
seem  to  be  uneasy,  and  I  think  I  can  conjecture  the 
cause  of  it ;  you  begin  to  want  money." 

"  You  have  guessed  right,"  replied  I ;  "  and  what 
is  still  worse,  there  is  no  quarter  of  the  world  from 
whence  I  can  expect  any." 

"  The  meanr,"  said  Matadori,  "  are  in  your  own 
power  whenever  you  please,  without  being  reduced 
to  the  painful  necessity  of  applying  to  friends  for 
assistance.  You  have  only  to  enter  into  the  employ- 
ment I  follow,  and  I  will  undertake  that  you  shall 
not  only  have  a  good  appointment,  but  be  enabled 
to  live  with  ease  and  independence." 

I  requested  that  he  would  inform  me  of  the  nature 
of  the  employment. 


148  THE  HISTORY  OF 

"I  was  just  going  to  tell  you,"  said  he.  "You 
know  that  there  resides  in  this  city  an  old  Catalo- 
nian,  known  by  the  name  of  Don  Roderigo  de 
Centella.  This  officer  was  formerly  a  leader  of 
miquelots  in  Spain,*  and  he  has  also  actually  served 
in  the  troops  of  the  Grand  Duke  with  honour.  The 
character  of  this  man  is  very  extraordinary;  his  mind 
is  entirely  occupied  in  causing  justice  to  be  admi- 
nistered in  civil  society.  For  this  purpose  he  has  a 
number  of  spies  to  inform  him  of  the  affronts  and 
outrages  that  are  committed  in  Florence  ;  of  these 
injuries  he  keeps  an  exact  register;  and  undertakes 
to  avenge  them  at  a  certain  price.  You  will  easily 
conceive,"  continued  Matadori,  "  that  a  man  cannot 
be  engaged  in  this  kind  of  pursuit  openly,  as  it 
might  be  considered  as  a  usurpation  of  the  rights  of 
government.  Matters  therefore  are  conducted  with 
the  greatest  possible  secrecy.  The  moment  a  spy 
discovers  that  any  person  has  received  an  injury, 
he  communicates  it  to  Don  Roderigo,  who  sends 
to  the  injured  party,  and  offers,  for  a  certain  sum 
of  money,  to  revenge  his  cause,  either  by  the  death 
of  the  aggressor,  or  by  some  other  punishment  pro- 
portioned to  the  enormity  of  the  offence.  If  the 
proposal  is  acceded  to,  which  is  almost  always  the 
case,  the  captain  pronounces  the  sentence,  and  exe- 
cutes it  immediately  by  means  of  his  spies,  among 
whom  he  divides  one-half  of  the  money  he  received." 

I  interrupted  Matadori  hastily.     "You  are  then,  I 
conjecture,"  said  I,  "one  of  these  secret  executioners." 

"You  have  conjectured  rightly,"  replied  he  ;  "  I  am 
one  of  Don  Roderigo's  spies,  and   so  are  also  the 

*  The  miquelots  were  a  sort  of  banditti  who  infested  the  mountains 
of  the  Pyrennees. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  149 

two  young  gentlemen  to  whom  I  have  introduced 
you,  the  one  of  whom  is  a  Sicilian,  and  the  other 
a  Venetian." 

"The  devil  take  it,"  said  I,  laughingly,  "but  you 
are  recommending  me  to  a  service  of  some  danger, 
which  does  not  at  all  accord  with  my  temper;  and 
I  am  fearful  that  I  should  not  acquit  myself  in  it 
with  great  dexterity ;  for  although  I  was  bred  to 
surgery,  I  am  not  of  a  sanguinary  disposition ; 
and  besides,  I  must  freely  confess,  that  I  do  not 
think  I  possess  sufficient  courage  for  such  perilous 
exploits." 

"  Oh  !  ignorant  simpleton,"  exclaimed  Matadori,  "  I 
possess  no  more  courage  than  you  do.  Valour  is  a 
gift  which  Heaven  has  bestowed  upon  very  few  men. 
I  declare  to  you,  most  confidently,  that^if  the  em- 
ployment ever  obliged  me  to  attack  a  brave  man,  or 
any  man  fairly,  or  engage  in  any  perilous  undertaking, 
I  would,  lucrative  as  it  is,  renounce  it  to-morrow. 
Do  not,  therefore,  deceive  yourself,"  continued  he, 
"  by  supposing  that  we  run  any  risk.  Where  can  be 
the  danger  ?  We  rush  upon  a  man  who  is  not  upon 
his  guard,  then  strike  him  instantly  to  the  heart  with 
a  poniard,  or  blow  out  his  brains  with  a  pistol,  and 
our  business  is  executed." 

"  I  acknowledge  the  truth  of  what  you  say,"  said 
I ;  "  but  all  your  eloquence  to  excite  a  desire  in  my 
mind  to  augment  the  number  of  Don  Roderigo's 
spies,  will  be  fruitless.  I  do  not  like  to  raise  money 
by  these  means  ;  the  very  idea  of  assassination  chills 
me  with  horror." 

"I  do  not  wonder  at  it,"  replied  Matadori;  "the 
prejudices  of  education  unavoidably  produce  these 
sentiments ;    my    mind    like   yours   revolted   at    the 


ISO  THE  HISTORY  OF 

idea  of  shedding  the  blood  of  a  fellow-creature,  or 
rather  I  was  fearful  of  its  consequences ;  the  captain 
appeared  to  me  like  an  inhuman  villain ;  but  I  saw 
the  matter  in  a  very  different  view,  when  I  was 
informed  of  the  admirable  system  he  pursues  in 
the  condemnation  of  the  offender.  His  method  is 
this:  he  examines,  by  rules  of  the  purest  equity,  all 
the  circumstances  of  the  case,  and  then  consults  a 
register,  in  which  he  has  collected  a  description  of 
every  species  of  injury,  pardonable  and  unpardon- 
able, with  the  several  reparations  which  ought  to 
be  made  according  to  the  nicest  laws  of  honour. 
This  is  his  system  of  jurisprudence;  and  by  these 
unerring  rules  he  decides,  with  as  safe  a  conscience, 
and  as  much  anxiety  for  justice,  as  any  criminal 
judge  in  the  country." 

"Holy  Heavens!"  exclaimed  I,  to  the  Sicilian, 
"this  impious  and  inhuman  tribunal  is  worthy  of 
Spaniards !  They  most  fondly  wish  for  vengeance. 
I  no  longer  wonder  that  they  are  said  to  have 
expunged  from  their  decalogue  the  sixth  command- 
ment. But,  though  a  Spaniard  myself,  I  am  a  faith- 
ful observer  of  it.  I  wish  that  I  had  also  power  as 
strictly  to  observe  all  the  others." 

"From  what  I  have  related  to  you,"  said  Matadori, 
"you  must  perceive  that  whatever  is  repugnant  to 
humanity  in  the  system  of  this  Catalonian  captain, 
must  be  attributed  to  the  strict  principles  of  justice 
on  which  it  is  founded ;  for  sentence  of  death  is 
only  affixed  to  the  most  atrocious  injuries,  as  may 
be  seen  by  the  register,  a  copy  of  which  each  of 
his  spies  carries  in  his  pocket  as  his  breviary."  In 
saying  this,  he  pulled  from  his  pocket  a  small  manu- 
script volume  written  in  the  Castilian  language,  and 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  151 

desired  me  to  read  a  few  pages,  which  among  other 
things  contained  the  following  articles: 

First.  Let  the  traitor,  who,  after  seducing  a  man 
into  any  difficult  or  dangerous  enterprise,  shall  desert 
and  leave  him  to  extricate  himself,  be — STABBED. 

Secondly.  If  a  man  of  gallantry  shall  use  any 
endeavour  to  debauch  the  wife  of  a  jealous  husband, 
he  shall  be — SHOT. 

Thirdly.  If  a  man  return  the  favours  which  a 
friend  has  conferred  upon  him  with  ingratitude,  he 
shall  suffer  the — STILETTO. 

Fourthly.  If  any  satirist,  whether  in  verse  or  in 
prose,  rashly  censures  the  works  of  the  illustrious 
dead,  whose  memories  all  the  world  revere,  he  shall 
be  condemned  to  that  punishment  which  the  Romans 
called — Fustuariunt* 

Fifthly.  Every  author  who  destroys  the  credit  of 
any  good  citizen  shall  receive — TWO  GASHES  IN 
THE  FACE. 

The  merit  of  the  other  articles  which  this  curious 
code  of  jurisprudence  contained,  may  be  collected 
from  those  I  have  enumerated.  I  returned  the 
volume  to  Matadori,  saying,  that  I  should  prefer 
the  duties  of  servitude  to  the  performance  of  those 
which  the  office  of  spy  to  Don  Roderigo  required. 

"You  are  to  blame,"  replied  Matadori,  "for  I  now 
exercise  these  duties  without  feeling  the  least  com- 
punction, and  the  large  profits  they  produce  render 
my  situation  perfectly  agreeable;  this  is  the  medium 
through  which  you  ought  to  view  the  service;  and 
if  you  were  onlv  to  taste  the  sweets  of  two  or  three 
expeditions,  you  would  find  it  a  very  agreeable 
and  pleasant  employment.     We  have  frequently  very 

*  Which  was  to  be  whipped  to  death  with  large  rods. 


1 52  THE  HISTORY  OF 

valuable  prizes.  For  instance,  to-morrow  night,  we 
have  one  which  will  produce  to  each  of  us,  by  an 
agreement  already  made,  thirty  pistoles.  There  is 
at  present  in  this  city  a  young  and  noble  Spaniard, 
who  is  enamoured  with  the  wife  of  an  old  but 
opulent  merchant ;  the  young  spark  hovers  every 
evening  in  the  environs  of  his  charmer's  house;  the 
husband  has  engaged  to  pay  a  thousand  crowns  for 
his  punishment;  one  moiety  of  which  he  has  paid 
in  advance,  and  the  remainder  is  to  be  paid  the  day 
after  justice  is  executed  on  the  offender." 

"This  Spanish  nobleman,"  said  I,  "perhaps  may 
not  permit  himself  to  be  so  easily  assassinated  as 
you  seem  to  expect." 

"Excuse  me,"  said  Matadori;  "  as  he  always  walks 
alone,  his  mind  occupi6d  with  love,  and  totally  un- 
apprehensive of  danger,  he  will  fall  a&  easy  victim. 
The  attack,"  continued  Matadori,  "  ovight  to  have 
been  made  this  evening  ;  but  Don  Roderigo,  follow- 
ing with  scrupulous  fidelity  the  principles  of  his 
system,  thought  it  wrong  to  deprive  a  man  of  his 
life  until  he  had  acquired  a  perfect  knowledge  of 
his  character.  The  only  information  he  has  yet 
obtained  is,  that  he  is  by  birth  a  Castilian,  and 
that  he  is  called  Don  Christoval.  In  vain  I  endea- 
voured to  persuade  the  judge  that  this  information 
was  sufficient.  'No,  no,'  replied  he;  'it  is  neces- 
sary first  to  know  his  family  and  connections,  and 
I  charge  you  to  make  the  discovery  this  day,  so 
that  nothing  may  impede  the  stroke  of  justice  to- 
morrow.' " 

The  name  of  Don  Christoval  alarmed  me.  I 
conceived  that  the  person  to  whom  it  was  applied 
might  be  my  former  master,  who,  visiting  Florence, 


VANILLA  GONZALES.  153 

was  willing  to  enter  into  its  gallantries  ;  and  these 
fears  were  greatly  augmented  by  the  knowledge  I 
possessed  of  his  fondness  for  the  sex. 

The  uneasiness  which  this  uncertainty  created  in 
my  mind,  and  the  anxiety  I  felt,  if  he  was  really 
the  man,  to  rescue  him  from  the  impending  danger, 
induced  me  to  feign  an  inclination  to  be  employed 
by  the  captain  as  a  spy.  "You  have  only,"  said  I 
to  Matadori,  "to  show  me  the  dwelling  of  this  pro- 
scribed Spaniard,  and  be  assured  I  will  obtain  a 
complete  account  of  him  before  night." 

Matadori,  conceiving  that  I  intended  faithfully 
to  assist  him,  was  transported  with  joy  ;  and  after 
praising  nvy  good  sense,  and  showing  me  the  dwell- 
ing of  MSn  Chiistoval,  quitted  me  to  inform  his 
companions  that  I  was  hereafter  to  share  with  them 
the  profits  of  their  judicial  enterprises. 

The  impatience  I  felt  to  see  this  Castilian  noble- 
man, whose  days  were  drawing  so  rapidly  to  an 
end,  is  greater  than  language  can  express.  The 
hotel  at  which  he  lodged  was  at  .a  distant  part  of 
the  city,  and  generally  frequented  by  Spaniards; 
and  I  immediately  resorted  to  it,  determined  to 
apprise  the  person,  whomsoever  it  might  be,  of  the 
danger  which  threatened  his  life.  I  had  no  occasion 
to  apply  for  information  to  the  landlord,  for  the 
first  person  I  saw,  on  entering  the  doors,  was  my 
dear  master,  Don  Christoval  de  Gavaria.  We  re- 
collected«each  other  at  the  same  instant.  Saluting 
him,  and  seizing  one  of  his  hands,  I  kissed  it  with 
such  transport  that  I  was  unable  to  utter  a  word.  On 
his  part  also,  whether  his  former  friendship  for  mo 
revived,  or  whether  he  was  moved  by  the  joy  I 
exhibited  at  seeing  hino,  he  was  certainly  affected  to 


154  THE  HISTORY  OF 

a  high  degree  ;  and  embracing  me  with  the  warmest 
cordiality,  expressed  his  joy  at  seeing  me  again,  in 
the  strongest  terms.  "Yes,  my  honest  friend,"  con- 
tinued he,  "  I  return  my  thanks  to  Heaven  that 
we  once  more  meet  again,  after  a  separation  of  so 
many  years.  I  have  been  travelling,  at  the  desire 
of  my  uncle,  through  Italy  for  the  last  fifteen 
months ;  and,  since  I  have  the  happiness  to  meet 
you  here,  I  shall  find  it  my  inclination  to  stay 
much  longer  at  Florence  than  I  at  first  intended. 
Rut  tell  me,  Vanillo,  how  do  you  pass  your  time 
in  this  city?  Is  your  situation  comfortable?  What 
have  you  been  doing  since  the  day  of  our  unhappy 
separation." 

I  gave  Don  Christoval  an  ample  detail  of  all  my 
adventures,  omitting  only  my  acquaintance  with 
Matadori ;  and  when  I  had  concluded  my  narra- 
tion, he  resumed  his  discourse. 

"  I  am  happy,  Vanillo,  to  find  you  in  a  situation 
which  enables  you  again  to  enter  into  my  service  : 
but  as  it  would  be  painful  to  the  feelings  of  a  man 
who  has  been  a  Viceroy's  page,  to  be  reduced  to 
the  capacity  of  valet  to  a  private  gentleman,  I  will 
make  you  my  secretary.  Will  that  be  agreeable 
to  you  ?" 

"Extremely  agreeable,"  replied  I;  "there  is  only 
one  circumstance  that  gives  me  pain.  The  old 
knight,  who  has  so  happy  a  talent  at  confounding 
the  Latin  poets,  will  perhaps  think  it  as  improper 
that  I  should  be  your  secretary  as  your  valet." 

"  The  knight  is  no  more,"  replied  Don  Christoval, 
"and  there  is  no  obstacle  remaining  to  impede  our 
reunion." 

"Well,  sir,"  replied  I,  "since  it  is  your  pleasure, 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  155 

I  am  at  your  service.  Place  the  same  confidence 
in  me  as  you  did  before,  and  be  assured  I  shall 
always  preserve  my  fidelity  to  you.  Permit  me  to 
inquire  what  employment  Love  has  afforded  you 
since  you  have  been  at  Florence;  for  I  have  no 
doubt  but  that  some  new  Bernardina  entertains  you 
with  kindness." 

"  It  is  true,"  replied  he,  "  I  am  in  pursuit  of  a  mer- 
chant's wife,  young,  beautiful,  and  amorous ;  but 
although  she  has  engrossed  my  attention  for  this 
last  fortnight,  I  have  not  yet  reaped  any  fruit  from 
my  industry.  I  must  not,  however,  accuse  her  of 
ingratitude,  for  she  has  just  sent  me  word,  that  her 
husband,  who  is  an  old  silk  merchant,  is  going  to- 
morrow to  Sienna,  and  will  be  absent  three  days; 
and  I  am  to  be  introduced  into  the  house  at  night  by 
means  of  a  menial  servant  whom  I  have  engaged  in 
my  interest." 

"  Take  good  care,  my  dear  master,  what  you  do," 
exclaimed  I ;  "  instead  of  meeting  with  the  pleasures 
of  love,  you  will  find  perhaps  a  disastrous  death." 

These  words,  which  I  pronounced  in  a  very  serious 
manner,  astonished  Don  Christoval. 

"  Vanillo,"  said  he,  "  explain  yourself.  Why  is  it 
that  you  speak  in  this  way  ?  Is  it  from  mere  conjec- 
ture that  you  use  this  language,  or  is  there  in  fact 
any  danger  of  which  I  am  ignorant  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  I,  "you  are  in  most  imminent 
danger."  At  the  same  time  I  related  to  him  all  that 
Matadori  had  told  me  ;  and  that  upon  hearing  the 
name  of  Don  Christoval,  I  had  treacherously  feigned 
to  become  one  of  the  spies  of  Roderigo,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  protecting  his  life. 

"You   have   conducted  yourself  in  this   business 


156  THE  HISTORY  OF 

with  admirable  dexterity,"  said  my  master,  "and  I 
deeply  feel  the  great  obligation  I  am  under  to  you 
upon  this  occasion ;  but  do  not  think,"  continued  he, 
"  that  the  designs  of  these  miserable  ruffians  shall 
prevent  me  from  keeping  the  appointment.  There 
are  three  brave  Spaniards  who  lodge  in  this  hotel. 
I  shall  desire  them  to  accompanv  me.  Thev  will.  I 
am  sure,  be  happy  to  assist  in  purging  Florence  of 
this  nest  of  villains." 

On  my  representing  to  Don  Christoval  that  it 
would  be  much  more  wise  and  prudent  to  leave 
Florence  at  daybreak  the  ensuing  morning,  he  re- 
plied, "  My  honour  will  not  suffer  it.  It  shall  never 
be  said  that  the  fear  of  death  prompted  my  flight." 

"  And  must  not  you  fly  for  fear,"  replied  I, 
"  if  you  should  happen  to  kill  Matadori  and  his 
companions? " 

"Oh,  my  dear  friend,"  said  he,  "the  cases  are 
very  different;  there  is  no  shame  in  flying  from 
justice  when  her  arms  are  extended  for  your 
destruction." 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  157 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

THE    CONCLUSION  OF    THIS   ADVENTURE THE   APPREHEN- 
SIONS VANILLO  ENTERTAINED AND    HIS  DEPARTURE 

FROM  FLORENCE  WITH  DON  CHRISTOVAL. 

The  measures  which  Don  Christoval  proposed  to 
adopt  did  not  in  any  way  nreet  with  my  approba- 
tion, and  I  ag^ain  endeavoured  to  dissuade  him  from 
pursuing  them;  but  all  my  efforts  were  vain.  He 
immediately  communicated  his  intentions  to  the 
three  Spaniards,  and  they  acceded  to  the  scheme 
with  as  much  alacrity  as  if  they  had  been  engaging 
in  a  party  of  pleasure. 

While  these  gentlemen  were  enjoying  in  idea  the 
success  of  their  project,  I  returned  to  my  hotel, 
where,  pursuant  to  the  measures  I  had  preconcerted 
with  Don  Christoval,  I  informed  Matadori  that  the 
cavalier,  whose  family  he  was  so  anxious  to  obtain 
some  account  of,  was  Don  Christoval  of  Gavaria,  a 
gentleman  not  only  of  high  rank,  but  of  immense 
fortune,  in  the  province  of  Arragon,  which  was  the 
place  of  his  nativity. 

"  This  is  sufficient,"  said  Matadori.  "  To-morrow 
we  will  give  this  gentleman  a  passport  to  the  other 
world,  and  he  will  find  that  neither  his  nobility  nor 
his  fortune  will  impede  his  voyage." 

On  the  evening  of  the  ensuing  day,  each  of  the 
three  spies,  the  better  to  enable  them  to  strike 
this  blow  of  summary  justice,  armed  himself  with 
a  sword,    a    dagger,    and    a    pistol,    and    concealed 


i$$  THE  HISTORY  OF 

themselves  in  the  vicinity  of  the  lady's  house, 
who  was  the  cause  of  these  dreadful  prepara- 
tions, where  they  did  not  wait  long  before  Don 
Christoval  arrived  ;  but,  perceiving  him  surrounded 
by  three  men  with  drawn  swords,  instead  of  making 
the  meditated  attack,  they  conceived  it  more  prudent 
to  discharge  their  pistols  at  them  and  retire.  They 
fired,  however,  with  so  much  precipitation,  that  they 
only  wasted  their  powder  in  the  air.  In  vain  did 
Don  Gavaria  and  his  friends  follow  the  fugitives ; 
they  pursued  men  greatly  their  superiors  in  the 
race,  especially  Matadori,  who  possessed  the  talent 
of  instantly  placing  a  great  distance  between  him- 
self and  his  enemy. 

The  coast  being  now  clear,  Don  Christoval  was 
at  full  liberty  to  enter  the  house  of  the  old  mer- 
chant, and  take  complete  revenge  for  the  price 
which  jealousy  had  set  upon  his  life;  but  choosing 
rather  to  renounce  his  vengeance  than  to  continue  an 
amour  which  might  still  produce  unpleasant  conse- 
quences, he  returned  to  the  hotel  with  his  three 
friends,  and  terminated  an  adventure  which,  if  the 
spies  of  Don  Roderigo  had  not  been  arrant  pol- 
troons, might  have  produced  bloodshed  and  death. 
Poltroons,  however,  as  they  were,  they  made  me 
tremble. 

"  Signor  Vanillo,"  said  Matadori  to  me  the  follow- 
ing day,  "may  I  ask  you  what  sum  you  received 
from  Don  Christoval  for  advising  him  to  be  upon 
his  guard  last  night  ?  for  if  you  had  not  warned 
him  of  his  danger,  I  am  persuaded  he  would  have 
come  alone  to  the  rendezvous." 

I  attempted  to  deny  the  fact;  but  Matadori 
s  lcnced  me,  saying,  "  Deny  it  to  others,  my  friend, 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  159 

but  do  not  attempt  to  impose  upon  me.  Do  not 
add  the  meanness  of  falsehood  to  the  guilt  of  trea- 
son. There  is  not  the  least  doubt  existing  in  the 
minds  either  of  my  companions  or  myself,  of  your 
having;  rendered  this  kind  office  to  Don  Gavaria. 
You  have  played  us  a  page's  trick,  and,  as  far  as  I 
am  concerned,  I  freely  forgive  you;  but  I  cannot 
answer  for  my  Venetian  and  Sicilian  confederates  ; 
and  therefore,  if  you  mean  to  act  wisely,  you  will 
take  good  care  of  yourself." 

The  alarm  which  this  insinuation  of  danger  gave 
me,  induced  me  to  assume  the  appearance  of  un- 
daunted courage.  "  If  these  gentlemen  shall  dare  to 
attack  me,"  said  I,  "I  shall  defend  myself.  If  I  am 
not  naturally  courageous,  I  am,  to  make  amends, 
one  of  those  rational  bravoes  who  fight  like  madmen 
when  thev  are  obliged  to  do  it." 

"So  much  the  better  for  you,"  replied  he;  "for  if 
they  should  meet  you  accidentally  in  a  convenient 
place,  you  will  have  occasion  for  all  your  bravery,  of 
whatever  kind  it  may  be,  to  escape,  in  a  whole  skin, 
from  their  hands." 

This  discourse,  which  was  only  intended  to  terrify 
me,  produced  the  desired  effect;  and,  conceiving  that 
I  was  not  safe  in  sleeping  at  my  own  hotel,  I  not 
only  decamped  to  take  shelter  with  Don  Christoval, 
but  I  constantly  avoided  walking  alone  either  in  the 
city  or  its  environs;  and,  lest  my  rational  courage 
might  be  put  to  the  test,  lived,  as  I  may  say,  the  life 
of  a  hare,  for  the  course  of  eight  days.  I  was,  how- 
ever, eased  of  my  alarm  by  a  letter  which  my  master 
received  from  the  Bishop  of  Salamanca,  in  which  he 
desired  his  nephew  to  return  instantly  to  Saragossa, 
to  espouse  the  only  daughter  of  the  Count  de  Villa- 


160  THE  HISTORY  OF 

mediana,  governor  of  that  city,  adding,  that  he  in- 
tended to  perform  the  ceremony  himself. 

Don  Christoval,  who  paid  implicit  obedience  to  all 
his  uncle's  commands,  immediately  departed  from 
Florence,  accompanied  by  his  secretary,  a  valet-de- 
chambre,  and  a  lackey,  for  Leghorn,  in  order  to  wait 
the  first  opportunity  of  a  passage  to  Spain. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

DON  CHRISTOVAL  AND  HIS  SUITE  EMBARK  AT  LEGHORN, 
AND  SAIL  TO  BARCELONA,  FROM  WHENCE  THEY  PRO' 
CEED  TO  SARAGOSSA THE  MARRIAGE  OF  DON  CHRIS- 
TOVAL, AND  THE  CONSEQUENCES  OF  THIS  UNION. 

On  our  arrival  at  Leghorn  we  were  informed  that  a 
Spanish  vessel  would  sail  in  the  course  of  three  days 
for  Barcelona  ;  and,  taking  advantage  of  this  oppor- 
tunity, we  reached  that  port  after  a  prosperous  voyage, 
without  experiencing  the  least  bad  weather,  or,  what 
is  more  miraculous  in  those  seas,  without  meetingr 
with  a  Barbary  corsair.  The  moment  we  set  our  feet 
on  shore,  we  hired  mules  to  carry  us  to  Saragossa. 

Don  Christoval,  on  our  arrival  at  this  celebrated 
metropolis  of  Arragon,  not  choosing  to  visit  the 
Count  de  Villamediana,  or  to  appear  before  a  mis- 
tress whom  he  had  never  seen,  until  he  had  changed 
his  dress,  alighted  at  the  first  hotel ;  but,  before  we 
had  been  there  an  hour,  a  servant  from  the  Bishop 
of  Salamanca  appeared.  "  Signor,"  said  he  to  Do.l 
Christoval,  "  I  have  been  seeking  you  from  hotel  to 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  161 

hotel,  by  order  of  his  Grace  your  uncle,  who  has 
been  at  Saragossa  these  eight  days  past.  He  is  at 
the  Governor's  house,  where  an  apartment  is  prepared 
for  you  ;  and  they  are  waiting  for  your  arrival  with 
great  impatience.  I  will  return  and  inform  them  of 
your  approach,  which  I  am  sure  they  will  be  rejoiced 
to  he.ir." 

The  servant  who  communicated  this  information 
to  Don  Christoval  was  my  old  class-fellow  at  the 
University,  the  very  Mansano  whom  I  had  left  at  the 
episcopal  palace  of  Salamanca.  He  looked  at  me 
steadfastly  for  some  time,  and  at  length  recollecting 
his  former  friend,  exclaimed,  "  How  !  Vanillo  Gon- 
zales returned  ?" 

"  Yes,  my  good  friend,"  replied  I,  "  my  kind  stars 
have  directed  me  to  find  my  former  master,  who  has 
kindly  restored  me  to  his  service." 

"  I  am  overwhelmed  with  joy,"  replied  Mansano, 
"  and  can  assure  you  that  the  rest  of  his  Grace's 
household  will  be  equally  pleased  to  find  you  rein- 
stated in  your  former  employ." 

"  My  friend."  said  Don  Christoval,  turning  to  his 
unc'.e's  valet,  "perhaps  you  have  seen  the  lady  who 
is  destined  to  be  my  bride.  Does  her  beauty  justify 
my  eager  haste  to  receive  her  hand  ? " 

"  Signor,"  replied  Mansano,  "Donna  Anna  will 
gain  but  little  by  the  portrait  I  can  draw  of  her. 
She  is  ono.  of  those  brilliant  beauties  which  it  is  im- 
possible to  describe  ;  nature  has  spread  around  her 
such  a  dazzling  lustre,  that  the  eye  is  incapable  ui 
perceiving  the  least  defect.  You  must  behold  her  to 
have  any  idea  of  her  charms.  But  I  can  truly  say, 
that  it  was  impossible  for  your  uncle  to  make  a 
better  choice. 

L 


1 62  THE  HISTORY  OF 

"  Upon  your  representation,"  replied  Don  Chris- 
toval,  w  ith  a  smile  of  satisfaction,  "  I  can  have  no 
doubt  of  my  future  happiness.  I  rely  with  confi- 
dence on  your  discernment.  Go,  Mansano,"  added 
he,  "  go,  announce  my  arrival  to  your  master,  and 
assure  him,  that  in  a  few  minutes  he  will  see  his 
nephew." 

Mansano  returned  accordingly  to  the  Bishop,  and 
Don  Christoval  made  every  preparation  which  he 
thought  might  prepossess  the  mind  of  Donna  Anna 
in  his  favour.  The  style  of  his  dress  was  neatly 
elegant,  and  when  every  decoration  was  performed, 
he  repaired  to  the  Governor's  house. 

The  affectionate  uncle  burst  into  tears  of  joy  at 
seeing  him  again,  and,  embracing  him  with  great 
tenderness,  exclaimed — 

"  My  dear  nephew,  your  return  will  afford  me  sti.H 
higher  delight  if  you  approve  of  my  negotiation  for 
your  felicity.  The  Count  de  Villamediana,  my  an- 
cient friend,  is  willing,  on  my  account,  to  prefer  you 
to  every  other  candidate  for  his  daughter's  hand. 
The  alliance  appeared  to  me  so  advantageous  to  you, 
that  I  have  ventured,  without  consulting  you,  to  pro- 
mise your  acquiescence;  but  do  not  conceive  that 
I  mean  to  tyrannise.  You  shall  see  Donna  Anna 
immediately;  if  she  meets  with  your  inclination,  you 
may  become  her  husband  in  a  short  time;  but,  on 
the  contrary,  if  you  feel  the  least  objection,  I  will 
myself  oppose  the  match ;  and,  en  the  other  side 
also,  if  you  should  not  meet  with  the  lady's  approba- 
tion, the  engagements  I  have  made  are  void.  These 
are  the  terms  upon  which  her  father  and  I  have 
agreed,  in  order  to  avoid  the  misery  of  uniting  two 
persons  who  are  not  destined  for  each  other/' 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  i     , 

"Sir,"  replied  Don  Christoval,  "I  am  certainly 
under  great  obligations  to  you  for  the  tender  attach- 
ment you  have  always  shown  to  my  interest;  but  I 
doubt  whether  I  ought  to  rejoice  at  these  conditions, 
which,  though  extremely  prudent,  are  not  without 
danger.  The  heart  of  Donna  Anna  is  perhaps  pre- 
eneaeed  ;  and  if  it  be  not  I  may  be  disagreeable  to 
her,  however  pleasing  she  may  appear  to  me." 

"  It  is  right  to  be  modest,"  replied  the  Bishop,  with 
a  smile;  "  but,  considering  your  age  and  person,  I 
cannot  but  entertain  some  hopes.  I  may  also  say,  to 
encourage  you,  that  I  cannot  think  your  figure  will 
be  any  way  displeasing  in  the  eyes  of  the  young  lady. 
But,"  continued  he,  "we  will  soon  put  it  to  the  test. 
I  must  first  introduce  you  to  the  Count  de  Villame- 
diana,  and  we  will  then  pay  our  respects  to  the 
Countess  and  her  daughter." 

The  Bishop  accordingly  conducted  his  nephew  to 
the  apartment  of  the  Governor.  The  old  nobleman 
received  Don  Christoval  with  the  most  engaging 
politeness,  and,  struck  with  his  fine  and  open  coun- 
tenance, involuntarily  exclaimed  that  Donna  Anna 
would  be  very  difficult  if  she  did  not  approve  of  such 
a  lover.  The  Prelate,  on  his  part,  spoke  highly  in 
praise  of  the  lady,  politely  saying  he  was  sure  the 
heart  of  his  nephew  must  surrender  at  first  sight. 
The  Count  and  the  Prelate,  though  satisfied  of  the 
truth  of  what  they  said,  were,  however,  not  without 
fear  that  some  hidden  caprice  might  confound  their 
project.  To  decide  the  doubtful  point  they  imme- 
diately conducted  the  young  man  to  the  cabinet  of 
the  Countess,  where  they  discovered  Anna  in  all  the 
brilliancy  of  dress  and  beauty. 

This  first   interview  was    employed   in  the  inter- 


164  THE  HISTORY  OF 

changes  of  civility ;  not  a  word  transpired  on  the 
subject  of  the  intended  alliance:  for  it  was  thought 
right  first  to  discover  whether  the  parties  interested 
appeared  to  have  any  objection  to  the  union.  The 
first  opportunity,  therefore,  which  the  Count  had  of 
speaking  privately  with  his  daughter,  he  asked  her 
what  she  thought  of  Don  Christoval,  and  whether 
she  had  any  objection  to  him  as  a  husband.  She 
confessed,  with  modest  candour,  that  she  should, 
without  murmuring,  obey  her  father's  order,  to  receive 
his  hand. 

Don  Christoval,  on  his  part,  did  not  wait  for  his 
uncle's  question,  to  declare  the  victory  which  Donna 
Anna  had  gained  over  his  heart;  for,  in  truth,  she 
alone,  from  the  first  moment  he  saw  her,  occupied 
his  mind. 

"  O  Vanillo ! "  said  he,  "  I  have  seen  Donna  Anna. 
Mansano  has  truly  said  that  it  is  impossible  to  paint 
her,  without  doing  injury  to  her  charms.  She  has, 
perhaps,  defects,  but  her  lovely  eyes  beam  with  such 
transcendant  lustre  that  they  dazzle  the  beholder, 
and  prevent  him  from  examining  her  charms,  except 
with  admiration." 

"  My  dear  master,"  replied  I,  "  deeply  engaged  as 
your  heart  appears  to  be  by  the  beauties  of  your 
bride,  I  have  no  doubt  but  your  merits  have  made  an 
equal  impression  on  her  mind." 

"  I  dare  not  flatter  myself,"  said  he,  "  with  the  hope 
of  so  much  happiness." 

"  Fie,  sir,"  replied  I,  "  you  cannot  be  serious  in  that 

sentiment;  entertain   a  juster   opinion  of  nature;  if 

the  heart  of  our  sex  palpitate  with  pleasure  at  the 

sight  of  female  charms,  why  should  you  think  their 

>ms  feel  less   emotion  in   our  favour  ?     I   should, 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  165 

in  your  situation,  "entertain  a  higher  opinion  of  my 
merit,  and  immediately  conceive  that  I  had  warmed 
the  heart  by  which  I  felt  my  own  so  much  in- 
flamed." 

Don  Christoval  did  not  remain  long  ignorant  of 
the  passion  with  which  he  had  inspired  his  intended 
bride;  and  the  Count,  being  informed  by  the  Bishop 
of  the  tender  impression  which  his  daughter  had  made 
on  Don  Christoval's  heart,  ordered  preparation  to  be 
made,  without  loss  of  time,  for  their  nuptials,  which 
were  celebrated  a  few  days  afterwards  with  a  magni- 
ficence suitable  to  the  rank  of  the  parties. 

The  event  was  accompanied  by  great  rejoicings, 
and  a  ball  was  given  on  the  occasion  at  the  Castle, 
to  which  the  principal  nobility  of  Arragon  were 
invited. 

During  the  height  of  the  festivity,  a  gentleman, 
masked  and  dressed  in  the  French  style,  approached 
Don  Christoval,  and,  clasping  his  hand,  whispered 
softly  in  his  ear,  "  Sir,  I  insist  on  your  meeting  me 
to-morrow  morning  at  break  of  day,  on  the  plain  in 
the  road  to  Gallego,  there  to  receive  the  compliments 
I  have  to  make  you  upon  your  marriage,  which  I 
cannot  do  but  in  privacy." 

The  spirited  courage  of  Don  Christoval  replied, 
without  hesitation,  to  the  unknown,  "  Whoever  you 
may  be,  be  assured  that  I  will  meet  you  ;  and  take 
care  that  I  am  not  the  first  at  the  place  appointed." 

Don  Christoval  expressed  these  words  with  so 
much  composure,  that  no  person  in  the  company 
suspected  what  had  passed. 

Towards  the  conclusion  of  the  ball,  which  con- 
tinued all  night,  he.  privately  quitted  the  ball-room 
and,  under  pretence  of  en-joying  the  freshness  of  the 


166  THE  HISTORY  OF 

morning  air  on  the  borders  of  the  Ebro,  ordered  a 
horse  of  great  speed  to  be  saddled,  and  soon  reached 
the  plains  which  lead  to  Gallego.  The  unknown 
adversary  waited  his  approach  at  the  entrance  of  the 
village.  They  perceived  each  other  at  the  same  in- 
stant, and  were  soon  together  at  the  appointed  spot. 
Don  Christoval  addressed  his  adversary,  who  was 
still  masked. 

"  Sir,  before  you  offer  me  the  threatened  compli- 
ment on  my  marriage,  inform  me  who  you  are,  and 
why  we  thus  meet." 

"  That  is  my  intention,"  replied  the  unknown. 
"  My  name  is  Don  Melchier  de  Rida.  I  am  one  of 
the  disappointed  lovers  of  Donna  Anna,  whom  the 
Count  her  father  has  sacrificed  to  you.  I  am  too 
jealous  of  your  happiness  to  endure  it;  and  since  I 
have  not  been  so  fortunate  as  to  obtain  the  object  of 
my  love,  I  will  at  least  prevent  any  other  from  pos- 
sessing her." 

In  speaking  these  words  he  alighted  from  his  horse, 
which  he  tied  to  the  bough  of  a  tree.  Don  Christoval 
immediately  followed  his  example.  They  drew  their 
swords  at  the  same  instant,  and  a  violent  onset  imme- 
diately ensued.  Don  Melehier,  who  was  as  adroit  a 
swordsman  as  his  antagonist,  carried  a  thrust  under 
his  left  breast,  but  happily  the  point  of  the  sword 
only  glanced  the  side.  Don  Christoval,  to  revenge 
this  success,  made  a  variety  of  thrusts  equally  artful 
and  vigorous,  but  they  were  all  parried  with  great 
dexterity  and  returned  by  other  thrusts,  which  were 
avoided  with  equal  adroitness.  Tlie  combatants 
continued  to  fence  with  great  fury  for  more  than  a 
quarter  of  an  hour,  and  victory  hung  in  equal  scales. 
But  at  length  Heaven,  who  was  pleased  to  favour  the 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  167 

right  cause,  permitted  my  master  to  give  his  adver- 
sary the  coup  de  grace,  and  he  fell  dead  at  his  feet. 
The  victor  immediately  remounted  his  horse,  and 
returned  to  Saragossa,  leaving  the  unfortunate  gen- 
tleman who  had  provoked  this  appeal  weltering  in 
blood  on  the  field  of  battle. 

Don  GbjfWBtoval,  on  his.  return  to  the  Castle,  imme- 
diately communicated  the  particulars  of  this  event  to 
his  uncle  and  his  father-in-law,  who,  conscious  that 
the  family  of  the  deceased  possessed  great  interest  at 
court,  resolved  that  it  would  be  necessary  for  my 
master  immediately  to  conceal  himself  in  some  secret 
retreat  until  the  matter  could  be  accommodated ; 
and,  after  much  consideration,  the  Castle  of  Rodenas, 
belonging  to  the  Bishop  of  Albarazin,  an  intimate 
friend  of  the  Count's,  was  fixed  upon  as  the  properest 
place  of  refuge. 

The  day  was  occupied  in  making  preparations  for 
his  departure,  and  in  settling  the  means  by  which  a 
mutual  intercourse  might  be  safely  preserved  ;  after 
which  he  retired  to  the  apartment  of  his  beloved  wife, 
and  passed  two-thirds  of  the  night  in  condoling  with 
her  on  the  separation  which  had  thus  early  inter- 
rupted their  hymeneal  joys.  A  few  moments  before 
the  approach  of  day  he  departed,  accompanied  by  his 
valet-de-chambre,  his  lackey,  and  myself,  mounted 
on  four  of  the  finest  horses  in  the  Governor's  stables  ; 
and  in  three  days  we  reached  the  village  of  Longares, 
from  whence  we  continued  our  route  in  the  same  way 
to  Daroca,  where  we  passed  the  night. 


168  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

DON  CHRISTOVAL    AND    VANILLO   ARRIVE  AT    THE   CASTLE 

OF    RODENAS THE   MANNER    IN    WHICH    THEY  WERE 

RECEIVED  BY  THE  BISHOP  OF  ALBARAZ1N. 

At  daybreak  the  ensuing  morning  we  continued  our 
journey  ;  and,  by  a  beaten  track  between  the  moun- 
tains, arrived  at  Villa  Franca,  where,  stopping  to 
inquire  the  situation  of  the  castle  of  Rodenas,  we  had 
the  pleasure  to  find,  not  only  that  it  was  but  a  mile 
distant,  but  that  the  Bishop  was  there.  Don  Christo- 
val  accordingly  despatched  me  with  the  letter  which 
the  Count  de  Villamediana  had  written  to  the  Prelate, 
requesting  him  to  afford  an  asylum  to  his  new  rela- 
tion. 

I  repaired  immediately  to  the  castle,  which  was 
extremely  magnificent  in  its  structure,  and  the 
grounds  by  which  it  was  surrounded  in  fine  order. 

The  moment  I  announced  my  arrival  from  the 
Governor  of  Saragossa,  I  was  conducted  to  his  Grace's 
apartment,  who,  being  a  lover  of  music,  was  then 
enjoying  a  vocal  and  instrumental  concert  in  the 
larcfe  hall.  He  rose  and  met  me  as  I  entered  the  room 
I  presented  the  Count's  letter  to  him,  which  he 
opened,  and,  having  perused  its  contents,  desired  me 
to  follow  him  t©  his  study. 

"  The  Count  de  Villamediana,"  said  he,  u  does  me 
infinite  honour  to  prefer  this  castle  to  all  the  other 
asylums  which  he  might  have  commanded  for  his  son. 
I  feel  with  so  much  sensibility  this  new  testimony  of 


VAN1LL0  GONZALES.  i6y 

his  friendship,  that  I  shall  be  anxious  to  do  every- 
thing in  my  power  to  show  my  gratitude.  Return 
directlv  to  Saragossa,"  continued  he,  "and  assure  the 
Governor,  that  I  await  the  arrival  of  Don  Christoval 
with  impatience." 

"My  Lord,"  replied  I,  "you  will  not  long  be  de- 
prived of  the  pleasure  of  his  company  ;  he  is  now  not 
far  off,  for  I  have  just  left  him  at  the  hotel  at  Villa 
Franca." 

"So  much  the  better,"  replied  the  Prelate;  "retam 
to  him  with  all  possible  expedition,  and  conduct  him 
immediately  to  the  castle,  where  you  may  assure 
him  he  will  be  received  by  a  sincere  friend  of  his 
worthy  father-in-law." 

I  was  not  long  in  returning  to  my  master,  who, 
upon  the  report  I  made  of  the  disposition  of  the 
Bishop  of  Albarazin  to  receive  him,  departed  in- 
stantly from  Villa  Franca  for  the  Castle  of  Ro- 
denas. 

The  conduct  of  the  Prelate  corresponded  with  his 
promises  :  he  received  Don  Christoval  with  every 
mark  of  politeness  and  respect ;  and,  after  a  long 
conversation  with  him  on  the  subject  of  the  duel, 
regaled  him  with  a  supper  and  a  concert.  On  the 
conclusion  of  the  evening,  he  conducted  him  to  the 
handsomest  apartment  in  the  castle,  where  he  left 
him  to  repose. 

To  do  justice  to  this  hespitable  Prelate,  I  must 
acknowledge  that  he  was  one  who  did  the  highest 
honour  to  Episcopacy.  Descended  from  the  House 
of  Ozorio,  he  joined  to  the  nobility  of  his  family  a 
fortune  which  enabled  him  to  support  a  splendid 
table,  the  most  superb  equipages,  and  a  regular 
band  of  music.     Besides  this,  he  was  a  man  of  bene- 


170  THE  HISTORY  OF 

volent  and  humane  feelings,  who  gave  all  his  super- 
fluous wealth  to  the  poor ;  but,  unfortunately  for 
them,  the  style  in  which  he  lived  seldom  left  much 
remaining  for  this  purpose. 

The  ensuing  day  his  Grace  walked  with  his  new 
guest  round  the  gardens  and  pleasure-grounds, 
which  were  certainly  worthy  of  admiration  :  on  the 
one  side,  beautiful  parterres,  ornamented  with  a 
thousand  curious  flowers,  interspersed  with  aro- 
matic shrubs,  offered  incense  to  the  sight  and  smell. 
Here  fountains  fed  by  the  river  Xiloa,  which  runs 
through  the  grounds,  elevated  the  water  proudly 
into  the  air,  while  its  streams  fell  again  with  dashing 
noise  into  marble  reservoirs  beneath.  There  avia- 
ries of  wide  extent  presented  to  the  eye  the  varied 
plumage  of  every  rare  and  curious  bird.  These 
delightful  gardens  appeared,  in  short,  to  be  the 
work  of  fairies ;  for  the  Prelate,  who  cultivated  them 
with  equal  taste  and  expense,  passed  much  more  of 
his  time  at  the  Castle  of  Rodenas,  than  at  the 
Episcopal  Palace  of  Albazarin,  which  was  only 
about  eigi»ieen  miles  distant. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  171 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

VANILLO   DEPARTS  FROM   THE    CASTLE   OF  RODENAS   AND 

RETURNS    TO    SAR4G0SSA HE   LOS-ES   HIS    WAY,    AND 

SLEEPS  IN  A  HERMITAGE. 

TWO  days  after  our  arrival  at  Rodenas,  Don 
Christoval  addressed  me  in  the  following  terms : 
"  We  enjoy,  you  perceive,  Vanillo,  a  most  de- 
lightful retreat  ;  and,  what  is  still  more  pleasing 
to  me,  live  under  the  auspices  of  a  grandee  who 
performs  all  the  duties  of  hospitality  with  peculiar 
propriety.  Of  this  circumstance  we  ought  imme- 
diately to  inform  the  Count  de  Villamediana ;  he 
will  be  delighted  to  hear  of  the  respectful  atten- 
tion the  Bishop  pays  to  me ;  and  I  have  resolved 
to  despatch  you  to-morrow  to  give  him  the  ac- 
count." 

I  prepared  accordingly  to  return  to  Saragossa, 
and  set  off  the  ensuing  morning  with  a  long  letter 
to  the  Governor,  and  another  still  longer  to  Donna 
Anna.  I  also  received  one  from  the  Prelate,  ex- 
pressing his  gratitude  to  the  Count  for  having 
sent  him  so  amiable  a  guest  as  Don  Chris- 
toval. 

Passing  through  Villa  Franca,  I  continued  my 
road  across  the  mountains,  and  arrived  at  the 
source  of  the  river  Guerva,  where  I  lost  my  way 
by  pursuing  a  path  on  the  opposite  side  of  this 
devious  stream,  instead  of  keeping  close  to  its 
banks  on  the  side  of  Daroca.  After  travelling 
^ev^al  houry,    I    arrived   at   a   kind   of   hermitage, 


i72  THE  HISTORY  OF 

at  the  door  of  which  stood  an  old  man,  whose 
venerable  appearance  inspired  me  with  respect  : 
a  long  brown  robe  enclosed  his  body,  a  simple 
network  bonnet  covered  his  head,  a  white  beard 
flowed  upon  his  breast,  and  the  sacred  rosary- 
adorned  his  hand.  "  Holy  father,"  said  I,  "  do 
me  the  favour  to  inform  me  where  I  am,  and 
whether  there  is  any  place  of  accommodation 
near." 

"  You  are,"  replied  he,  "  six  miles  from  Belchite, 
and  nine  from  Romana ;  there  is  no  place  of  ac- 
commodation until  you  arrive  at  the  one  or  the 
other  of  these  villages,  neither  of  which  you  can 
possibly  reach  before  night  ;  but  if  you  will  ac- 
cept," added  he,  "  the  accommodation  which  my 
humble  cell  affords,  I  offer  it  to  you  with  good 
will,  and  to-morrow  morning  you  may  pursue  your 
journey." 

Suspicion,  says  a  Castilian  author,  is  the  parent 
of  security  ;  I  remained  for  several  minutes  uncer- 
tain how  to  determine. 

The  kind  recluse  divined  the  meaning  of  my 
hesitation,  and  smiling,  said,  "  Young  gentleman, 
do  not  permit  my  external  appearance  to  alarm 
you;  this  habit  is  sometimes  worn  by  honest  men." 
These  words  dispelled  my  fears ;  and  I  dismounted 
from  my  mule,  rendering  thanks  to  Heaven  for 
having  so  kindly  provided  for  me  this  accommodat- 
ing interview. 

This  venerable  eld  man  immediately  conducted 
me  into  an  inner  court,  where  he  called  to  an 
attendant,  who  was  also  clothed  in  the  habit  of  a 
hermit,  and  qrdered  him  to  take  care  of  my  mule. 
We  then  entered  into  a  hall,  in  which  were  a  range 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  173 

of  benches  to  sit  on,  and  on  the  walls  pictures  of 
St.  Anthony,  St.  Pachomius,  and  other  anchorets. 
Adjoining  to  this  hall  was  a  small  chamber  with 
two  beds  :  "  You  see,"  said  the  hermit,  "  the  only 
opportunity  I  have  of  affording  comfortable  repose 
to  those  whose  misfortunes  direct  their  steps  to  my 
cell."  From  the  chamber  we  proceeded  to  a  kind 
of  chapel,  in  which  this  holy  man  generally  offered 
up  his  prayers  to  Heaven.  From  the  chapel  he 
conducted  me  into  a  large  garden,  filled  in  great 
abundance  with  every  species  of  fruit  trees.  "  Ob- 
serve these  trees  with  attention,"  said  he;  "they 
supply  the  place  of  butchers  and  bakers,  and  are 
the  source  of  all  my  nourishment.  My  servant  and 
myself  live  throughout  the  whole  year  on  the  fruits 
they  produce,  without  feeling  the  want  of  other 
provisions.  Sheep  and  ofher  animals,  which  in  the 
world  are  slaughtered  to  gratify  the  sensuality  of 
men,  we  permit  to  feed  in  safety  on  their  native 
plains;  and  instead  of  treacherously  entrapping  the 
winged  creation,  we  delight  to  see  them  in  the  full 
enjoyment  of  their  natural  liberty.  As  we  eat  only 
fruits,  so  our  only  beverage  is  water.  Our  cellar  is 
in  this  garden  ;  it  consists  of  a  fountain,  whose  soft 
and  transparent  water  excels  incomparably  the  rich- 
est wines.  You  would  acknowledge  this  truth  if  you 
had  lived  the  life  of  an  anchoret  in  this  delightful 
retreat  for  only  a  few  months." 

The  recluse,  perceiving  a  smile  on  my  counten- 
ance as  he  pronounced  these  words,  told  me  that  my 
taste  was  vitiated. 

"Vitiated  as  my  taste  may  be,  my  good  father," 
replied  I,  "  there  are  certain  wines  which  I  have 
tasted,    both    in    Spain    and    Italy,   which,  notwith- 


174  THE  HISTORY  OF 

standing  all  your  praises,  I  must  confess  appear  to 
me  more  palatable  than  your  water." 

"  Then,"  replied  he,  "  I  can  only  lament  your 
situation;  for  I  have  nothing  to  offer  you  but  fruits 
and  water." 

"  Oh  !  do  rot  lament  it,"  replied  I,  "  for  I  am 
fond  of  fruits ;  and  as  to  water,  one  night  will  soon 
be  passed."  We*  walked  round  the  garden,  and  re- 
turned into  a  small  room,  which  served  as  a  re- 
fectory, and  on  the  walls  of  which  were  inscribed 
many  moral  sentences  on  the  subject  of  temper- 
ance. 

We  then  seated  ourselves  at  a  table,  at  which 
were  placed  two  earthen  plates,  a  large  dish  filled 
with  various  kinds  of  fruits,  a  pitcher  of  water,  and 
two  goblets  ;  but  we  had  neither  tablecloth  nor 
napkin. 

The  repast,  of  which  I  neither  ate  nor  drank  to 
excess,  was  seasoned  with  much  serious  and  enter- 
taining conversation  on  the  necessity  of  despising 
the  things  of  the  world.  Charmed  by  the  mild 
eloquence  which  flowed  with  irresistible  persuasion 
from  the  lips  of  this  amiable  and  happy  man,  "  My 
good  father,"  said  I,  "  it  appears  from  what  you 
have  said,  that  you  have  played  no  unimportant 
part  on  the  theatre  of  the  world ;  and,  if' it  were  not 
taking  too  great  a  liberty,  I  would  request  of  you  to 
relate  to  me  the  series  of  adventures  by  which  you 
were  induced  to  seek  this  solitary  retreat." 

"  My  child,"  replied  he,  "  I  am  willing  to  satisfy 
your  curiosity,  because  I  ihope  you  will  derive  ad- 
vantage from  the  recital  you  require." 

He  accordingly  began  as  follows: — 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  175 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

THE   HISTORY  OF   THE   HERMIT. 

I  WAS  born  in  the  ancient  and  celebrated  city  of 
Patnpeluna,  the  capital  of  Navarre,  and  boast  a 
descent  from  the  illustrious  family  of  Peralta,  with 
whom  the  kings  of  that  country  did  not  disdain  to 
form  alliance.  Don  Francis  de  Peralta,  my  father, 
no  sooner  saw  me  able  to  bear  arms,  than  he  sent 
me  to  serve  in  Italy,  where  I  passed  the  early  days 
of  youth.  I  afterwards  went  into  Flanders  ;  from 
whence,  after  a  war  of  many  years,  I  returned,  on 
the  restoration  of  peace,  to  my  native  country.  En- 
gaged in  a  life  of  pleasure,  with  young  officers  of 
my  own  age,  hunting,  gaming,  plays,  and  gallantry, 
were  my  chief  amusements  ;  but  although  I  had  an 
opportunity  of  conversing  with  all  the  celebrated 
beauties  of  the  country,  none  of  them  touched  my 
heart.  I  wantoned  (if  I  may  so  express  myself) 
for  some  time  with  impunity  round  the  torch  of 
love ;  I  at  length,  however,  suffered  severely  by  its 
flames.  A  grand  tournament  being  proclaimed  at 
Pampeluna  to  celebrate  the  nativity  of  a  prince, 
most  of  the  your*g  officers  entered  the  lists,  to 
dispute  with  each  other  *he  fame  of  victory,  and 
spectators  resorted  to  the  city  in  crowds,  from 
Navarre,  Castiie,  Biscay,  and  Arragon,  to  behold 
the  contest.  Among  others,  there  came  an  old 
gentleman  from    Burgos,  named    Don    Gaspard  de 


176  THE  HISTORY  OF 

Henis,  accompanied  by  Donna  Innes  his  daughter. 
The  aunt  of  this  young  lady,  Donna  Juanna 
Ximenes,  a  rich  widow,  who  supported  a  splendid 
establishment  in  Pampeluna,  and  with  whom  these 
visitors  resided,  was  at  this  period  upon  terms  of 
particular  intimacy  with  a  sister  I  then  had,  named 
Leonora  ;  and  as  they  seldom  failed  to  visit  each 
Other  every  day,  Leonora  immediately  became  ac- 
quainted with  Donna  Innes,  and  a  confidential  friend- 
ship was  cemented  betwixt  them. 

Charmed  by  the  graces  of  her  new  friend,  Leonora 
was  incessantly  resounding  the  praises  of  the  lovely 
Castilian,  for  so  she  always  called  the  daughter  of 
Don  Gaspard.  "  My  dear  brother,"  said  she,  "  is 
not  Donna  Innes  an  amiable  girl  ?  The  beauties 
of  her  person  are  only  equalled  by  the  excellences 
of  her  mind.  She  is  all  accomplished  !  How  happy 
will  be  the  youth  who  becomes  her  husband." 

This  language,  which  Leonora  frequently  repeated 
with  increasing  enthusiasm,  was  so  far  from  making 
any  impression  on  my  mind,  or  even  exciting  any 
violent  desire  to  see  a  lady  who  was  so  extolled 
by  her  own  sex,  that  I  ridiculed  the  praises  she 
so  liberally  bestowed,  and  told  her  that  in  all 
probability  this  object,  much  as  she  admired  her, 
possessed  a  greater  number  of  bad  than  good 
qualities.  In  short,  the  more  I  heard  in  favour  of 
the  lovely  Castilian,  the  less  desire  I  had  to  see 
her. 

Whilst  I  enjoyed  the  pleasures  of  this  happy 
indifference,  although  I  was  acquainted  with  many 
of  the  sex  well  qualified  to  deprive  me  of  it,  the 
day  appointed  for  the  tournament  arrived — a  day 
more  unfortunate  to  me  than  any  other  of  my  life, 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  177 

and  which  I  cannot  now  recollect,  without  a  re- 
membrance of  the  misfortunes  that  followed  it. 

On  entering  the  lists  with  my  lance  couched, 
waiting  for  the  signal  of  combat,  I  cast  my  eyes 
towards  a  balcony,  and  perceived  my  sister  in  deep 
conversation  with  a  young  lady,  whose  appearance 
instantly  caught  my  attention,  and,  by  a  certain 
charm,  which  I  cannot  well  explain,  filled  me  with 
emotion  and  delight.  "It  must  be  Donna  Innes," 
said  I  to  myself.  The  perturbation  of  my  heart 
at  that  instant  convinced  me  it  was  the  lovely 
Castilian,  and  I  felt  that  Love  was  now  deter- 
mined to  revenge  the  inattention  I  had  paid  to 
the  language  in  which  Leonora  had  expressed  her 
praise. 

A  desire  to  attract,  by  some  signal  exploit,  the 
observation  of  a  lady  who  had  thus  touched  my  soul, 
called  forth  all  my  efforts,  and  enabled  me  to  gain 
the  highest  honours  of  the  day.  My  sister,  whose 
heart  beat  in  unison  with  my  own  at  the  acclama- 
tions of  applause  which  the  spectators  bestowed  on 
me,  was  careful  to  heighten  the  admiration  of  her 
fair  companion,  by  informing  her  who  I  was.  The 
lovely  Castilian,  in  politeness  to  her  friend,  appeared 
to  partake  of  her  joy,  and  congratulated  her  on 
having  such  a  brother. 

The  tournament  being  finished,  I  sought  the 
earliest  opportunity  to  inquire  of  Leonora  the 
name  of  her  companion.  "  It  is  Donna  Innes," 
replied  she.  "  Well,  Don  Felix,  what  do  you  say, 
now  you  have  seen  her  ?  For,  short  as  the  time 
was  which  you  had  to  contemplate  her  person,  you 
must  have  been  struck  with  its  beauty." 

"  I  confess,"  replied  I,  "  the  radiance  of  her  charms 

M 


178  THE  HISTORY  OP 

has  dazzled  me,  or  rather  made  me  feel  the  whole 
force  of  their  power.  Alas  !  while  I  was  applauded 
in  the  lists  as  a  conqueror,  I  was  conquered." 

"  My  dear  brother,"  replied  Leonora,  "  I  am  not 
surprised  that  Donna  Innes  has  inspired  your  heart 
with  love ;  and  the  friendship  which  unites  Donna 
Innes's  heart  to  Leonora's  encourages  my  hope  of 
being-  able  to  serve  you."  I  profited  so  much  by 
these  tender  offers  of  assistance,  that  my  sister 
undertook  to  convey  a  letter  to  the  lovely  Cas- 
tilian,  in  which  I  declared  my  passion  in  the 
warmest  terms. 

I  concluded,  from  the  reliance  which  I  placed 
upon  the  ability  of  my  mediatress,  and  the  good 
opinion  which  a  young  man  naturally  indulges 
of  his  own  merit,  that  my  billet  would  be  favour- 
ably received ;  and  my  expectation  was  not  dis- 
appointed. 

"  Don  Felix,"  said  my  sister  to  me,  a  few  days 
after,  "I  have  joyful  tidings  to  announce  to  you: 
the  lady  refused,  for  some  time,  to  open  your  letter; 
but  I  spoke  so  warmly  in  your  favour,  that  at 
length  she  not  only  complied,  but,  expressing  a 
high  esteem  for  your  merits,  consented  that  you 
shall  solicit  her  in  marriage  of  her  father  when  he 
returns  from  Biscay,  where  he  is  at  present  gone 
on  business  which  may  detain  him  two  or  three 
months.  In  the  meantime,  she  has  no  objection 
to  receive  your  addresses,  provided  they  can  be 
managed  with  secrecy  ;  the  care  of  her  reputation 
obliging  her,  as  she  observes,  to  conduct  herself 
cautiously  during  his  absence  :  she  therefore  pro- 
hibits you  from  serenading  her  with  the  sound  of 
flutes,  guitars,  and,  in  one  word,  from  every  species 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  179 

of  clamorous  gallantry.  This  prohibition  is,  T  ac- 
knowledge, extremely  mortifying  to  a  Spanish 
lover;  but,  in  lieu  of  these  pleasures,  you  are  per- 
mitted to  write  to  her,  and  may  flatter  yourself 
with  the  hope  of  receiving  answers." 

The  transports  of  joy  with  which  this  conversation 
inspired  me,  convinced  Leonora  of  the  violence  of 
my  passion ;  and  her  affection  for  me  was  such,  that 
I  think  the  idea  she  entertained  of  my  approaching 
felicity  rendered  her  joy  equal  to  my  own.  The 
good  offices  of  a  sister,  to  whom  my  interests  were 
so  dear,  was  of  infinite  advantage.  I  enjoyed  with 
the  lovely  Castilian,  during  a  period  of  two  months, 
not  only  a  literary  correspondence,  but,  by  means 
of  a  grated  window  which  looked  into  a  solitary 
court  at  the  back  of  her  aunt's  house,  was  fre- 
quently admitted  to  a  nocturnal  interview.  Every- 
thing succeeded  according  to  my  wishes,  and  I 
entertained  the  highest  hopes  of  happiness;  but 
while  love  brightened  my  days,  my  evil  genius 
was  laying  snares  to  make  me  miserable. 

Don  Gaspard,  on  his  return  from  Biscay,  inti- 
mated his  intention  of  returning  with  his  daughter 
to  Burgos;  and  while  I  felt  on  this  occasion  all 
the  alarm  of  a  lover  fearful  of  losing  the  object  of 
his  affections,  Donna  Innes  appeared  equally  afflicted 
by  this  omen  of  separation.  Happily,  however,  for 
me,  Donna  Juanna,  who  adored  her  niece,  would 
not  consent  to  her  departure;  and  her  father,  not 
daring  to  displease  a  relation  whose  wealth  he  ex- 
pected his  children  would  inherit,  at  length  con- 
sented to  leave  her  behind.  But  no  sooner  were 
my  apprehensions  upon  this  occasion  quieted,  than 
a  new  danger  of  a  similar  kind  occurred. 


i So  THE  HISTORY  OF 

One  day,  while  Leonora,  with  a  number  of  other 
ladies,  were  visiting  Donna  Juanna,  a  messenger 
arrived  and  delivered  a  letter  to  Donna  Innes,  who 
retired  to  the  alcove  and  opened  it.  My  sister, 
whose  eyes  were  attentively  fixed  upon  her  while 
she  was  reading  the  letter,  observed  in  her  coun- 
tenance uncommon  marks  of  joy,  and  that  every 
word  it  contained  affected  her  with  pleasure ;  she 
also  observed,  that  when  Donna  Innes  had  read 
the  letter,  she  called  her  servant,  and  whispered 
something  softly  in  her  ear,  and  that  the  servant, 
in  a  tone  of  voice  sufficiently  loud  to  be  overheard, 
advised  her  to  follow  her  inclination. 

On  these  circumstances  being  mentioned  to  me 
by  my  sister,  we  endeavoured  to  divine  the  possible 
meaning  of  these  significant  gestures  and  expres- 
sions, and  after  a  variety  of  conjectures,  by  no 
means  favourable  to  my  happiness,  we  concluded 
that  the  letter  came  from  a  rival,  whose  addresses 
she  was  inclined  to  encourage.  We  accordingly 
resolved  upon  certain  measures  to  discover  who  the 
person  was  that  had  thus  presumptuously  dared  to 
dispute  with  me  this  lovely  prize. 

Applying  to  Theodora,  the  confidential  servant 
of  my  charmer,  we  drew  from  her,  by  means  ot 
presents,  a  candid  confession  that  her  mistress  was 
beloved  by  Don  Martin  de  Trevigno,  one  of  the 
richest  gentlemen  of  Biscay,  and  that  they  fre- 
quently corresponded  with  each  other.  "  And  to 
convince  you  of  the  truth  of  what  I  say,"  continued 
the  faithful  girl,  "I  will  show  you  her  answer  to 
the  very  letter  she  has  just  received  from  your 
rival;  for  all  her  despatches  pass  through  my 
hands  in  their  way  to  the  messenger." 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  181 

Theodora  instantly  performed  her  promise;  and 
the  following  is  a  copy  of  the  letter  which  Donna 
Innes  had  written  to  her  Biscayan  lover: — 

"  I  rejoice  to  find  that  you  have  obtained  the 
title  of  Knight  of  the  Order  of  St.  James,  which 
you  so  ardently  desired,  and  which  has  so  long- 
deprived  me  of  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  only 
object  of  my  tender  affection.  Doubt  not  that  I 
shall  be  highly  pleased  with  the  speedy  return  with 
which  you  flatter  me  ;  but  remember  that  I  forbid 
you  to  visit  Pampeluna.  I  have  particular  reasons 
for  this  prohibition.  Go  to  Burgos,  and  exert  your 
utmost  endeavours  to  persuade  my  father  to  send 
for  me  home,  in  defiance  of  my  aunt's  reluctance  to 
part  with  me.  I  confess  she  makes  me  purchase  my 
expectation  of  becoming  her  heiress  at  a  high  price. 
Adieu  !  and  may  I  find,  on  my  return,  your  affection 
equal  to  the  tenderness  and  fidelity  of 

"D.  Innes." 

Mv  sensations  on  reading  a  letter  which  so  .ex- 
plicitly  informed  me  of  the  perfidy  of  Donna  Innes 
no  language  can  express.  I  had  great  occasion  for 
the  wise  counsel  of  my  amiable  sister  to  prevent 
the  total  distraction  of  my  mind  ;  and  her  prudent 
advice  brought  me  so  completely  to  my  senses,  that 
instead  of  abandoning  myself  to  my  fury,  and  over- 
whelming the  coquette  with  vain  reproaches,  I  deter- 
mined to  dissemble.  Leonora  also  followed  my 
example  with  so  much  adroitness,  that  Donna 
Innes,  not  suspecting  we  were  acquainted  with  her 
perfidy,  continued  as  usual  her  seeming  confidence, 
each  of  us  striving  who  should  best  conceal  their 
real  sentiments.  I  even  prevailed  on  myself  to 
continue  my  correspondence  with  this  faithless  fair 


1 82  THE  HISTORY  OF 

one  in  the  warmest  language  of  love,  and  she  con- 
tinued to  answer  my  letters  in  even  warmer  ex- 
pressions than  my  own. 

While  we  were  living  thus  cordially  with  each 
other,  Don  Gaspard  arrived  at  Pampeluna,  to  re- 
conduct his  daughter  to  Burgos,  to  which  place 
Don  Martin  had  then  returned.  But  Donna  Juanna 
still  opposed  ;  and  notwithstanding  all  the  reasons 
which  her  brother  offered  to  her,  absolutely  refused 
to  consent  to  the  departure  of  her  niece.  Don  Gas- 
pard, not  daring  to  thwart  the  inclination  of  a  sister 
who  was  likely  to  take  revenge  in  her  last  will,  not 
only  quitted  the  contest,  but  consented  to  relinquish 
his  residence  at  Burgofi  and  to  live  entirely  with  his 
sister  at  Pampeluna.  The  perfidious  niece  would 
willingly  have  sacrificed  the  tender  attachment  of  her 
aunt  to  her  own  tender  attachment  for  her  lover,  who 
she  foresaw  would  soon  repair  to  Pampeluna,  and 
render  by  his  presence  the  further  continuance  of 
her  double  professions  impracticable.  Her  mind, 
fruitful  as  it  was  in  stratagems  of  deceit,  was  un- 
equal to  the  difficulties  of  her  situation,  and  she 
discovered  a  perturbation  and  anxiety,  which  nothing 
but  a  knowledge  of  my  being  acquainted  with  the 
secret  of  her  guilt  could  possibly  increase. 

The  gay  rival  of  my  former  hopes  did  not  long 
disappoint  her  expectation,  but  appeared  at  Pam- 
peluna in  a  splendid  equipage,  accompanied  by  a 
number  of  domestics  clothed  in  rich  liveries,  and  in 
a  style  of  fashion  suited  to  the  dignity  of  his  order 
and  the  extent  of  his  fortune.  The  first  time  I  saw 
him  was  in  a  church  where  the  faithless  daughter 
of  Don  Gaspard  was  hearing  mass.  I  felt,  without 
knowing  why,  a  great  agitation  the  moment  I  beheld 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  183 

him,  or,  to  say  more  truly,  I  had  a  presentiment 
that  he  was  the  redoubtable  rival  of  whom  Theo- 
dora had  spoken  ;  but,  if  a  doubt  had  existed,  it 
would  soon  have  been  removed  ;  for  almost  im- 
mediatelv  addressing  himself  to  I>onna  Innes,  with 
a  fond  and  familiar  air,  she  received  him,  notwith- 
standing she  perceived  that  I  observed  them,  in  a 
manner  which  wounded  me  with  jealousy.  Instead 
of  restraining  herself  to  spare  me  the  mortification 
of  seeing  her  bestow  her  attention  upon  another,  she 
lavished  upon  him  the  sweetest  looks,  and  pierced  my 
heart  by  the  testimonies  she  gave  him  of  her  love. 

On  quitting  the  church,  he  accompanied  her  to 
the  door  of  her  aunt's  house,  which  he  entered  like 
a  man  who  had  obtained  the  permission  of  Don 
Gaspard,  whilst  I,  filled  with  rage  and  despair,  re- 
turned to  my  apartment,  and  surrendered  myself  to 
the  severest  torments  of  wounded  pride. 

This  artful  deceiver,  however,  having  rightly  con- 
jectured that  I  should  not  bear  the  favourable  re- 
ception she  had  bestowed  upon  the  knight  with 
perfect  tranquillity,  took  the  trouble  to  write  me  a 
billet  in  the  evening,  signifying  that  the  person  I  had 
seen  at  church  need  not  afford  me  the  least  alarm  ; 
that  he  was  an  intimate  acquaintance  of  her  father's ; 
and  that  as  such  she  could  not  well  avoid  returning; 
his  polite  attentions  to  her;  but  that  her  behaviour 
was  the  effect  of  mere  civility,  and  nothing  more 
than  good  manners  required,  in  which  the  heart  had 
no  concern.  She  expressly  declared,  in  short,  that 
there  was  but  one  man  in  the  whole  world  she  was 
capable  of  loving,  and  that  that  man  was  myself. 

This  deceitful  letter  stung  me  to  the  soul,  and 
urged  me  to  revenge.     On  the  approach  of  evening 


1 84  THE  HISTORY  OF 

I  accoidiiigiy  put  on  a  disguise,  and  concealed 
myself  in  the  environs  of  the  faithless  creature's 
house,  with  a  determination  to  attack  my  rival 
whenever  chance  should  throw  him  in  my  way. 
Scarcely  had  I  approached  the  door  before  it  opened, 
and  a  young  page,  advancing  from  it  towards  me, 
asked  me  if  my  name  was  Signor  Don  Martin.  On 
my  telling  him  in  a  low  voice  that  it  was,  he  put 
a  paper  into  my  hands,  saying  that  Donna  Innes  his 
mistress  desired  me  immediately  to  perform  the  request 
it  contained.  Assuring  him  I  would,  and  giving  him 
a  double  pistole,  with  which  the  blundering  youth 
returned  as  well  contented  as  if  he  had  discharged 
his  commission  without  mistake,  I  hastily  returned 
home,  impatient  to  learn  the  contents  of  the  billet ; 
in  which,  on  opening  it,  I  read  the  following  words : 

"Yes,  Don  Martin,  I  will  perform  the  promise  I 
made  to  you  this  day.  To-morrow  at  midnight  I 
will  be  at  the  garden-gate/' 

This  information  increased  my  fury  ;  and  you  will 
easily  conceive  that,  with  a  bosom  alive  only  to 
revenge,  I  passed  a  painful  night.  The  morning  sun 
seemed  loath  to  rise,  and  the  tediousness  of  the 
succeeding  day  almost  exhausted  my  patience  before 
the  appointed  hour  arrived.  The  clock  struck  twelve 
as  I  approached  the  place  of  assignation,  where  I 
almost  instantly  discovered  my  detested  rival  ad- 
vancing towards  the  garden  gate ;  but  before  he 
entered,  "  Stop,  Don  Martin  !  "  exclaimed  I ;  "  stop  ! 
It  is  Don  Felix  de  Peralta  who  thus  impedes  your 
guilty  pleasures.  Listen  to  my  words  ;  and  learn, 
■:hat  the  perfidious  object  of  your  love  has  not  only 
encouraged  my  addresses,  but  has  avowed  her 
passion   for  me   in  a  variety  of  letters,  which  will 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  185 

prove,  at  the  same  time,  the  falsehood  of  her  heart 
and  the  truth  of  my  assertion.  My  feelings  call 
upon  me  to  revenge  her  perfidy,  and  to  deprive  her 
of  the  joy  she  might  receive  from  this  expected 
interview  with  you." 

My  favoured  rival,  struck  with  this  menacing 
address,  replied,  "  This  interruption,  Don  Felix,  is 
as  audacious  as  it  is  unjust.  On  what  right  can 
you  attempt  to  prevent  my  visit  to  a  lady  whose 
affections  I  have  for  more  than  six  years  entirely 
possessed  ?  The  regard  which  she  may  have  pre- 
tended for  you,  as  a  mere  entertainment  to  herself, 
I  disapprove  of;  for  a  gentleman  of  your  rank  ought 
not  to  have  been  treated  with  so  much  levity ;  but, 
sir,  however  you  may  have  been  encouraged  by  her 
behaviour,  you  must  excuse  me  from  believing  she 
has  written  to  you.  The  gentlemen  of  Navarre  are 
celebrated  for  boasting  of  female  favours  which  they 
have  never  received." 

"This  assertion,  Don  Martin,"  replied  I,  "is  add- 
ing insult  to  injury.  My  veracity,  sir,  shall  not 
be  slandered  with  impunity.  You  must  answer 
immediately  this  daring  affront.  Come  on,  sir,  and 
let  me  teach  you,  that  the  gentlemen  of  Navarre  are 
as  jealous  of  their  honour,  and  of  as  high  veracity, 
as  those  of  Biscay." 

In  uttering  these  words  I  drew  my  sword  :  ray 
adversary  immediately  followed  my  example.  We 
fought  on  both  sides  for  some  time  with  equal  ardour 
and  activity;  but  Don  Martin,  unfortunately  for  him, 
in  endeavouring  to  parry  a  thrust,  acquitted  himself 
so  badly,  that  the  point  of  my  sword  went  directly 
through  his  throat,  and  instantly  deprived  him  of  life. 

Leaving  my  antagonist  extended  on  the  ground, 


186  THE  HISTORY  OF 

I  entered  the  garden,  the  gate  of  which  I  found  half 
open,  and  met  Donna  Lines  walking  with  Theodora  in 
expectation  of  her  lover's  arrival.  "  Perjured  woman!" 
exclaimed  I,  addressing  her  in  the  violence  of  passion, 
"you  can  no  longer  deceive  me;  I  am  acquainted 
with  your  perfidy;  and  I  have,  this  instant,  gloriously 
revenged  myself  in  the  death  of  my  rival.  Oh,  that 
you  loved  him  a  thousand  times  more  than  you  do, 
that  I  might  increase  your  misery  while  I  announce 
his  death;  and  punish  you,  through  him,  for  de- 
ceiving me  !  It  is  true,  I  shall  be  obliged  to  flv  from 
my  country  and  my  family  ;  but  I  shall  have  the 
consolation  of  quitting  for  ever  the  presence  of  so 
detested  a  deceiver." 

Having  uttered  these  words  with  all  the  indigna- 
tion of  a  man  who  listened  only  to  the  dictates  of 
revenge,  I  rushed  from  the  garden,  and  left  Donna 
Lines,  who  had  fainted  away,  reclining  in  the  arms 
of  her  attendant. 

Returning  home  with  all  possible  expedition,  I 
awakened  my  father  from  the  comforts  of  repose, 
and  informed  him  of  this  disastrous  event.  The 
surprise  it  occasioned  was  great  indeed  ;  for  until 
that  moment  he  had  not  even  heard  of  my  partiality 
for  Donna  Innes  ;  but  when  he  reflected  that  the 
event  would  necessarily  force  me  to  fly  from  the  arm 
of  justice,  his  affliction  was  more  poignant  than 
language  can  express.  Considering,  however,  that 
it  was  a  misfortune  which  could  not  now  be  avoided, 
he  presented  me  with  a  purse  filled  with  gold  and 
jewels;  and  mounting  me  upon  one  of  his  fleetest 
horses,  bid  me  a  sorrowful  adieu,  just  as  the  sun  was 
ushering  in  the  day. 

Crossing  Navarre,  and  advancing  by  long  stages 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  1S7 

through  the  principality  of  Catalonia,  I  proceeded 
without  resting  to  Barcelona,  where  I  sold  my  horse, 
and  embarked,  with  all  possible  precipitation,  on 
board  a  vessel  for  the  port  of  Genoa.  The  safety 
which  Italy  afforded  restored  my  mind  to  its  former 
tranquillity ;  and  as  my  finances  enabled  me  to 
travel,  I  formed  a  design  of  viewing  the  whole  of 
that  delightful  country.  After  visiting  whatever 
was  curious  in  Genoa,  I  purchased  a  horse ;  and, 
directing  my  course  towards  Lombardy,  arrived  at 
Milan,  where  I  remained  six  months. 

On  bidding  my  father  adieu,  it  was  agreed  that  I 
should  write  to  him  from  the  several  places  I  might 
reside  at,  under  cover  tp  one  of  his  friends,  a  monk 
of  Pampeluna,  who  delivered  the  letters  as  he  re- 
ceived them  with  his  own  hands.  By  this  means  we 
reciprocally  communicated  intelligence  to  each  other. 
This  kind  parent,  in  one  of  his  letters,  informed  me 
that  the  daughter  of  Don  Gaspard  was  so  affected  by 
the  circumstances  of  Trevigno's  death,  that  she  had 
retired  into  a  convent,  and  that  a  runrour  prevailed, 
that  the  brother  of  Don  Martin  had  departed  from 
Biscay  with  intention  to  trace  me  from  place  to 
place,  and  to  avenge  the  death  of  his  brother.  This 
information,  although  it  gave  me  no  uneasiness, 
induced  me  to  take  such  precautions  as  might  pre- 
vent surprise.  I  accordingly  concealed  my  name, 
and  never  disclosed  to  any  person  the  place  of  my 
family  residence  in  Spain. 

Tired  of  the  pleasures  which  Milan  afforded,  I 
renewed  my  design  of  traversing  Italy ;  and  for  that 
purpose  directed  my  course,  on  horseback,  towards 
Parma. 

Towards  the  evening  of  the  second  day's  journey, 


•i 88  THE  HISTORY  OF 

while  I  was  deep  in  thought,  I  inadvertently  quitted 
the  road,  and  followed  a  path  which  conducted  me 
into  a  wide  country  covered  with  wood,  and  inter- 
sected with  thickets  of  bramble.  Perceiving  the 
mistake,  I  endeavoured  to  return  into  the  road  I  had 
left,  by  retracing  the  path  ;  but  instead  of  repairing 
my  fault,  I  found  myself  enveloped  by  a  deep  and 
dreary  glen,  from  which  the  darkness  of  the  night, 
which  now  closed  fast  around  me,  prevented  my 
return.  Compelled  to  remain  in  this  situation  until 
the  break  of  day,  I  dismounted,  and  taking  the 
bridle  from  my  horse,  that  he  might  graze  more  con- 
veniently, threw  myself  on  the  grass,  in  expectation 
that  a  sound  sleep  would  relieve  me  from  the  fatigues 
of  my  journey  and  the  calls  of  hunger ;  but  as  my 
wearied  eyelids  were  about  to  close,  I  suddenly  heard 
the  distant  cries  of  ill-omened  birds,  accompanied,  at 
intervals,  by  the  plaintive  sounds  of  a  human  voice. 
Starting  from  the  ground  to  discover,  if  possible,  the 
cause  of  these  extraordinary  noises,  and  walking 
towards  the  place  from  whence  the  sounds  seemed 
to  proceed,  I  discovered,  by  the  favour  of  a  feeble 
light,  which  the  moon  occasionally  cast  through  the 
dark  clouds  in  which  it  was  involved,  the  remains  of 
an  ancient  edifice.  It  appeared  like  a  chapel  fallen 
into  ruins,  and  become  the  melancholy  abode  of  bats 
and  screech-owls.  Advancing  to  examine  it,  I  heard 
more  distinctly,  every  step  I  took,  the  noises  which 
resounded  from  within  it.  The  whole  glen  some- 
times re-echoed  to  the  hideous  cries  of  birds  of  prey, 
and  at  others  I  clearly  discerned  something  like  the 
groans  and  lamentations  of  a  female,  who,  by  some 
strange  outrage,  had  been  enclosed  against  her  will 
within  this  place  of  horror. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  189 

The  desire  I  felt  to  develop  this  mystery  induced 
me  to  enter  the  ruins  ;  but  I  entered  them  with  a 
degree  of  fear  and  trembling,  from  which  the  most 
intrepid  man  could  not,  in  my  situation,  have  been 
free.  Curiosity,  however,  supported  my  courage, 
and  I  walked,  with  a  naked  sword  in  my  hand, 
slowly  and  cautiously  among  the  scattered  fragments 
of  the  edifice,  until  I  came  to  a  kind  of  tomb,  from 
whence  a  voice,  interrupted  by  sighs  and  groans, 
suddenly  pronounced  these  words :  "  O  unhappy 
woman  !  how  have  I  deserved  to  suffer  such  cruel 
treatment ! "  A  deathlike  terror  struck  my  heart 
on  hearing  these  expressions;  my  mind  was  dis- 
mayed ;  and  my  imagination  represented  it  as  a 
soul  consigned  to  trouble. 

Alarmed  and  agitated,  however,  as  I  was,  I  ven- 
tured to  speak  to  the  voice  I  heard  ;  but  my  address 
was  such  as  clearly  marked  the  disordered  state  of 
my  mind:  "Immortal  spirit!"  exclaimed  I,  "you 
who,  disengaged  from  corporeal  restraints,  expiate 
in  this  monument  the  crimes  committed  in  your 
mortal  state,  say,  what  would  you  have  ?  I  am 
ready  to  do  whatever  you  command." 

"  Ah  !  traitor,"  replied  the  voice,  "  you  are  not 
contented  with  having  buried  me  alive  within  this 
horrid  grave,  but  you  must  add  insult  to  this  cruel 
injury :  the  lingering  and  inhuman  death  which 
waits  me  in  this  horrid  sepulchre  might  fully  satisfy 
your  mind." 

On  receiving  this  reply,  which  convinced  me  that 
I  was  in  conversation  with  a  living  body,  my  appre- 
hensions vanished. 

"Whoever  you  are,"  said  I  to  the  afflicted  female, 
"  know    that    I    am    not    the    author   of  your   mis- 


l9o  THE  HISTORY  OF 

fortunes.  I  am  a  traveller,  who,  having  lost  his  way, 
was  preparing  not  far  from  hence  to  await  the  return 
of  morn,  when  I  heard  your  complaint,  and  have 
ventured  into  this  retreat  to  learn  its  cause  ;  the  fears 
which  your  ejaculations  inspired  deprived  me  of  my 
senses ;  I  fancied  you  a  departed  spirit,  and  under 
that  impression  exorcised  you ;  but  I  am  now 
undeceived;  and  if  I  shall  be  enabled  to  render  you 
the  least  service,  it  will  console  me  for  having  missed 
my  way.  Lose  no  time.  Come  forward  from  this 
frightful  place  and  follow  me.  I  have  a  horse  not 
far  hence,  and  will  conduct  you  wherever  you  shall 
direct." 

"Oh!  sir,"  replied  the  voice,  "I  cannot,  without 
your  assistance,  release  myself  from  this  horrid  dun- 
geon where  I  am  tied  with  cords;  my  tongue,  which 
shall  ever  hereafter  pour  forth  my  gratitude  to  heaven 
for  your  assistance,  alone  is  free." 

I  accordingly  approached  and  entered  the  tomb, 
where  I  found  a  woman,  not  only  fettered  hands  and 
feet,  but  to  render  the  scene  still  more  horrible,  closely 
fastened  to  the  dead  body  of  a  man.  The  shocking 
sisrht  struck  terror  into  mv  soul,  and  I  retreated  in- 
voluntarily  from  the  object. 

"Generous  stranger!"  said  the  lady,  "separate  the 
living  from  the  dead  :  release  me  immediately  from 
the  murdered  body  to  which  I  am  bound,  and  defeat 
the  vindictive  fury  of  an  unjustly  jealous  husband." 

I  concluded  from  these  last  words  that  the  deplor- 
able state  to  which  this  unhappy  woman  was  reduced 
must  be  a  new  Italian  method  of  punishing  conjugal 
infidelity. 

Gallantry,  however,  when  called  upon  to  aid  a 
female  in  distress,  is  never  impeded  by  a  considera- 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  191 

tion  of  circumstances  ;  and,  advancing  immediately 
towards  the  unhappy  sufferer,  I  cut  the  cords  with 
which  she  was  tied  with  mv  sword,  released  her  from 
her  dead  companion,  and  conducted  her  from  the 
tomb  through  the  surrounding  ruins,  to  the  spot 
where  my  horse  was  grazing. 

The  light  of  day  soon  afterwards  appeared  on  the 
horizon  ;  and  placing  the  young  sufferer  behind  me 
on  my  horse,  we  followed  the  first  track  without 
knowing  to  what  place  it  led,  and  arrived  in  a  short 
time  at  Betola. 

The  lady,  who  until  this  time  had  observed  profound 
silence,  on  viewing  the  village,  joyfully  exclaimed,  "  I 
know  where  we  are;  and  the  place  to  which  I  wish  to 
go  is  not  more  than  two  miles  distant.  Go  that  road, 
if  you  please,  sir,"  added  she,  pointing  to  a  path  :  "go 
that  road,  and  we  shall  in  less  than  an  hour  arrive  at 
a  farmhouse,  where  you  will  be  received  by  persons 
who  will  not  be  insensible  of  the  services  you  have 
rendered  me;  for  you  will  then  restore  me  to  the 
arms  of  my  beloved  parents,  to  a  fond  father,  to  a 
tender  and  affectionate  mother.  O  Anselmo !  O 
Dorothea  !  "  continued  she,  until  interrupted  by  her 
tears,  "unhappy  authors  of  my  existence,  what  will 
you  feel  ?  How  will  your  kind  hearts  bleed  with 
affliction  when  you  learn  the  unjust  and  cruel  treat- 
ment your  daughter  has  received  ?" 

This  apostrophe  was  followed  by  such  a  flood  of 
tears,  that  although  I  seriously  doubted  whether  I 
had  rescued  from  death  a  victim  perfectly  innocent,  I 
could  not  avoid  being  deeply  affected  by  her  distress. 
On  our  arrival  at  the  farmhouse,  an  aged  man  and 
woman  were  standing  at  the  door.  It  was  Anselmo 
and  Dorothea.     Astonished  and  surprised  at  perceiv- 


1 92  THE  HISTORY  OF 

ing  their  daughter,  "Just  heaven,"  exclaimed  the  old 
man,  "it  is  Lucretia!  Why  are  you  here  without 
your  husband  ?     Why  is  he  not  with  you  ?  " 

Lucretia  could  only  answer  with  her  tears,  which 
flowed  in  all  the  abundance  of  real  feeling  and  afflic- 
tion. "Alas!"  said  the  mother,  "I  am  afraid  that 
Aurelio,  my  son-in-law,  has  been  guilty  of  some  gross 
misconduct." 

At  these  words  the  sobs  and  tears  of  Lucretia 
increased  so  violently,  that  Anselmo,  perceiving  there 
was  no  probability  of  deriving  any  information  from 
her,  addressed  himself  to  me,  and  requested  I  would 
relate  to  them,  if  I  knew  it,  the  cause  of  her  affliction. 

I  accordingly  informed  them  of  the  situation  and 
place  in  which  I  had  found  their  daughter,  but  that  I 
was  entirely  ignorant  of  the  cause  which  had  induced 
her  husband  to  use  so  much  severity. 

While  I  was  giving  this  detail,  which  they  could 
not  hear  without  horror,  the  anguish  of  Lucretia  by 
degrees  abated;  and  resuming  the  use  of  her  voice 
she  related  the  following  story  in  her  justification  : — 

"  Aurelio,  the  person  to  whom  I  was  espoused," 
said  she,  "  is  a  man  not  only  more  jealous,  but  more 
capable  of  permitting  his  feelings  to  drive  him  into  a 
violent  excess  than  any  other  native  of  Italy.  Enter- 
taining suspicion,  but  upon  what  appearances  I  am 
totally  ignorant,  that  the  youth  and  beauty  of  one  of 
his  domestics  had  attracted  my  attention,  he  stabbed, 
in  a  frantic  moment  of  unfounded  jealousy,  the  inno- 
cent and  unhappy  youth;  and  tying  our  bodies  to- 
gether with  cords,  carried  us,  by  the  assistance  of 
persons  devoted  to  his  humour,  in  that  condition  to 
the  place  from  which  tnis  generous  stranger  has  just 
released  me." 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  193 

Anselmo  and  Dorothea,  who  knew  the  character  of 
Aurelio,  and  had  frequently  repented  of  having  given 
him  their  daughter  in  marriage,  were  penetrated  with 
the  keenest  anguish  at  this  recital;  and  they  joined 
their  tears  to  those  which  still  continued  to  flow  from 
the  eyes  of  Lucretia,  who  confirmed  her  innocence  in 
the  minds  of  her  parents  by  this  appeal :  "  If,"  said  she 
"  I  had  the  least  reason  to  reproach  myself,  can  you 
imagine  that  I  should  thus  presumptuously  appear 
before  you  ?  Oh  no !  so  far  from  daring  to  seek  an 
asylum  in  your  arms,  I  should  have  flown  with  horror 
from  my  paternal  dwelling,  and  have  endeavoured  to 
hide  the  shame  of  disgracing  the  education  you  have 
given  me  in  the  remotest  corner  of  the  earth." 

This  affectionate  couple  gave  credit  to  the  assevera- 
tion of  their  lovely  daughter,  and,  secretly  reproaching 
themselves  for  having  married  her  so  imprudently, 
locked  her  alternately  in  their  arms  with  every  mark 
of  parental  tenderness  and  contrition. 

These  transports  of  fond  sorrow  having  subsided, 
they  bestowed  on  me  a  thousand  thanks  for  saving 
their  innocent  and  lovely  child  from  impending  death, 
and  requested  me  to  continue  in  the  farm  with  them 
as  long  as  1  pleased  ;  but,  after  passing  a  day  with 
them,  I  inquired  the  nearest  road  to  Parma,  and 
proceeded  on  my  journey  to  a  city  celebrated  by 
its  being  the  usual  residence  of  the  illustrious  prince 
its  sovereign. 

Before  I  had  been  three  days  at  Parma  I  was 
engaged  in  an  adventure  which  had  nearly  cost  me 
my  life.  Curious  to  learn  whether  the  gallants  of 
Parma  chanted  the  pleasures  and  the  pains  of  love 
under  the  balconies  of  their  mistresses,  I  walked,  one 
evening  after  supper,  round  the  city.     The  clock  had 

N 


j 94  THE  HISTORY  OF 

already  struck  eleven  without  the  sound  of  a  single 
guitar  having  reached  my  ear;  but  no  sooner  did  the 
midnight  hour  arrive  than  music  of  all  kinds  resounded 
through  every  street.  A  concert,  seemingly  in  the 
Spanish  style  of  music,  was  performing  in  one  of  the 
squares,  and  conceiving  it  to  be  some  young  lover  of 
my  own  country  who  was  serenading  the  object  of 
his  affection,  I  advanced  towards  the  place. 

The  music,  while  I  listened  to  it  with  pleasure, 
suddenly  stopped  ;  the  sound  of  the  violins  was 
succeeded  by  the  clashing  of  swords ;  and  I  soon 
afterwards  discovered  a  man  who  was  retiring  in  a 
posture  of  defence  against  three  assailants  who 
pressed  upon  him  all  together  with  great  violence. 
Provoked  by  the  inequality  of  the  contest,  I  drew 
my  sword  ;  and  ranging  myself  on  the  side  of  the 
single  combatant,  who  must,  in  the  event,  have  fallen 
a  victim  to  superior  numbers,  gave  him  such  useful 
succour  that  we  obliged  the  assailants  to  retire,  not 
without  some  wounds,  which  in  all  probability  they 
would  not  have  received  if  I  had  not  joined  the 
affray. 

The  gentleman  in  whose  favour  I  had  thus  season- 
ably interposed,  appeared  so  extremely  sensible  of 
the  services  I  had  rendered  him,  that  he  knew  not 
how  to  discontinue  his  expressions  of  gratitude. 

"Sir,"  replied  I,  in  the  Castilian  language,  "the 
services  you  have  received  do  not  merit  such  extra- 
ordinary commendation.  Could  1  calmly  observe  one 
of  my  countrymen — for  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  you  are 
from  Spain — in  such  imminent  danger  without  afford- 
in  p-  him  assistance  ?  " 

"You  are  not  mistaken,"  replied  he;  "I  am  a 
native  of  Biscay,  and  my  name  is  Don  Gregorio  de 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  195 

Trevigno.  May  I  request," added  he, "to  be  informed 
what  province  in  Spain  has  the  honour  of  your  birth  ? 
I  beg  you  will  let  me  know  to  whom  I  am  indebted 
for  the  service  I  have  received." 

"You  must  excuse  me,  sir,"  replied  I,  "from  grati- 
fying your  curiosity,  lest  you  should  repent  of  having 
received  the  obligation  you  express  from  my  hands." 

"O  heavens  I "  exclaimed  the  Biscayan,  "can  you 
be  Don  Felix  de  Peralta  ? " 

"Yes,"  replied  I,  "  I  am.  It  was  I  who  killed  your 
brother  at  Pampeluna.  I  am  the  fugitive  whom  you 
seek,  and  whom  chance  has  thrown  in  such  a  manner 
in  your  way  that  fortune  seems  to  have  rendered  the 
succour  my  arm  has  just  afforded  you  a  screen  of 
delicacy  to  shelter  me  from  your  vengeance.  But  I 
am  not  inclined  to  accept  a  favour  so  awkwardly 
bestowed,  and  I  request  that  you  will  pay  no  regard 
to  a  service  which  I  should  have  rendered  to  any 
other  man  as  well  as  to  yourself.  Consult  only  your 
offended  feelings,  and  vindicate  your  brother's  death." 

"Would  you  do  so,"  interrupted  Don  Gregorio,  "if 
3  ou  were  in  my  place  ?  Speak ;  your  sentiments  shall 
guide  my  conduct." 

"  You  embarrass  me,"replied  I ;  "  if  you  had  spilled 
my  brother's  blood,  and  I  had  owed  my  life  to  you, 
the  voice  of  gratitude  would,  I  think,  have  silenced 
my  resentment." 

"  Then  why,"  replied  he,  "  should  I  act  in  a  different 
manner  ?  Do  you  conceive  that  my  notions  upon  this 
subject  are  less  refined  than  your  own  ?  No,  no,  Don 
Felix,  I  know  what  honour  requires  from  you  in  this 
conjuncture;  but,  however  consanguinity  may  mur- 
mur, I  will  no  longer  consider  you  as  my  enemy. 
You    have    yourself   repaired    the   injury   my  family 


i96  THE  HISTORY  OF 

received ;  since  the  same  sword  which  extinguished 
the  life  of  Don  Martin  has  prolonged  that  of  Gregorio. 
Permit  me,  further,  to  assure  you,  that  your  generous 
and  gallant  behaviour  has  banished  all  animosity  from 
mv  mind,  and  inclined  me  to  seek  that  future  friend- 
ship  from  you  which  on  my  part  I  am  sincerely  dis- 
posed to  bestow." 

We  accordingly  interchanged  addresses  ;  and,  after 
mutual  professions  of  respect  and  esteem,  parted, 
under  promises  to  visit  each  other  early  the  ensuing 
morning ;  and  each  of  us  was  so  eager  to  honour  the 
other  with  the  first  visit,  that  we  met  on  the  way. 

The  usual  compliments  having  passed,  Don  Gre- 
gorio desired  that  he  might  have  the  pleasure  of 
introducing  me  to  a  friend  of  his  at  court;  and,  in 
compliance  with  his  desire,  I  immediately  accom- 
panied him  to  the  house  of  Count  Guftdagni,  the 
Duke's  favourite,  and  first  gentleman  of  his  chamber, 
to  whom  he  presented  me,  saying,  "  Permit  me  to 
introduce  to  vou  Don  Felix  de  Peralta,  the  mortal 
enemy  whom  I  sought  with  so  much  industry ;  for  he 
is  now  one  of  my  best  friends." 

"  What  miracle,"  exclaimed  the  Count,  "  has  pro- 
duced this  alteration  in  your  sentiments?  " 

Don  Greeorio  then  related  to  him  the  recent  ad- 
venture,  candidly  avowing,  that  without  my  assistance 
he  must  have  lost  his  life.  The  Count,  having  listened 
to  this  narrative  with  great  attention,  congratulated 
us  on  an  event  which  had  thus  happily  terminated 
an  affair  of  honour,  which,  in  general,  ends  in  the 
death  of  one,  and  sometimes  of  both  of  the  parties. 

Guadagni  conceived  this  to  be  so  singular  a  cir- 
cumstance, that  he  could  not  avoid  communicating 
it  to  the  Duke  his  master,  who,  from  mere  curiosity, 


VANILLO  GONZALES. 


'97 


desired  to  see  and  converse  with  me.  The  interview 
afforded  so  much  pleasure  to  my  royal  auditor,  that 
he  resolved  to  detain  me  at  the  court  of  Parma  ;  and, 
for  that  purpose,  requested  my  acceptance  of  a 
lieutenancy  in  the  Guards  ;  and  as  I  also  enjoyed  the 
patronage  and  friendship  of  his  favourite,  I  enter- 
tained the  high  hope  of  being  able,  in  a  short  time, 
to  amass  a  splendid  fortune. 

I  communicated  my  reconciliation  with  Gregorio, 
and  my  advancement  at  the  court  of  Parma,  to  my 
fond  and  anxious  father ;  and  it  is  scarcely  necessary 
for  me  to  say,  that  his  congratulations  on  both  occa- 
sions were  equally  joyful  and  sincere. 

My  endeavours  to  cultivate  the  friendship  and  good 
opinion  of  the  Duke  of  Parma  were  so  successful, 
that  in  a  period  of  less  than  two  years  I  was  promoted 
to  the  post  of  first  chamberlain,  which  had  become 
vacant  by  Guadagni's  death. 

Natives  never  suffer  a  foreigner  to  occupy  a  place 
of  so  much  importance  at  court  with  any  degree  ©f 
quietude  or  security  ;  and  all  the  numerous  indivi- 
duals who  conceived  their  merit  had  been  overlooked 
or  slighted  by  my  promotion,  raised  an  envious  out- 
cry against  me,  and  endeavoured,  by  all  the  arts  of 
factious  calumny,  to  degrade  me  from  the  high  con- 
fidence and  esteem  in  which  I  was  held  by  my  royal 
benefactor.  Combinations  were  formed  amongst  the 
leading  courtiers  to  destroy  my  power,  and  they 
employed  all  the  arts  and  stratagems  ingenuity  could 
suggest  to  effect  their  purpose  ;  but  all  their  exertions 
were  fruitless,  and  only  contributed  to  fix  me  more 
firmly  in  my  exalted  station ;  for  you  may  conceive 
that  it  was  no  easy  task*  to  rob  me  of  the  favour  of  a 
prince  with  whose  virtues  and  vices  I  was  equally 


19S  THE  HISTORY  OF 

well  acquainted.  The  skilful  Guadagni  had,  by 
means  of  this  knowledge,  constantly  preserved  his 
credit  with  his  master;  and  treading  with  equal 
adroitness  in  the  steps  of  my  predecessor,  I  had,  in 
short,  discovered  the  secret  of  rendering  myself  so 
necessary  to  the  Duke,  that  he  no  longer  viewed  any 
object  except  through  my  eyes.  I  am  convinced 
that  no  favourite  ever  gained  a  more  absolute  ascen- 
dancy ;  so  great  indeed  was  my  power,  that  I  was 
called  the  coadjutor  of  the  states  of  Parma;  and  the 
opposing  courtiers,  finding  themselves  incapable  of 
making  successful  resistance,  submitted  to  the  pre- 
dominating influence  of  my  brighter  fortunes.  But, 
alas  !  the  authority  which  had  withstood  the  attacks 
of  a  powerful  faction,  yielded  to  the  superior  address 
of  a  lady,  for  whom  the  Duke  entertained  a  most 
extravagant  affection. 

This  dangerous  rival  was  the  wife  of  his  principal 
equerry,  the  Marchioness  of  Origo  ;  who,  although 
she  had  passed  the  meridian  of  life,  was  still  not  only 
the  most  striking  beauty,  but  the  most  artful  intriguer 
of  the  court.  From  the  first  moment  she  saw  the 
Prince  within  her  power,  she  formed  the  resolution  of 
removing  me  from  his  confidence,  in  order  that  she 
might  possess  the  entire  administration  of  affairs 
herself.  Aware  of  her  designs,  I  endeavoured,  of 
course,  by  every  means  in  my  power,  to  render  them 
abortive  ;  and,  as  is  frequent  between  the  ministers 
and  mistresses  of  princes,  a  contest  commenced,  in 
which  we  mutually  endeavoured  to  ruin  each  other 
in  the  mind  of  the  Duke,  by  every  ill  office  in  our 
respective  powers.  When  I  was  with  the  Duke,  I 
seized  every  occasion  to  degrade  he?  in  his  gooti 
opinion;  aad  when  she  was  with  him  my  character 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  i99 


afso  suffered  in  its  turn.  The  Prince,  whose  greatest 
foible  was  an  excessive  good  nature,  listened  some- 
times to  the  Marchioness,  and  sometimes  to  me,  like 
a  ship,  which,  tossed  about  by  two  opposing  winds, 
yields  alternately  to  both. 

This  formidable  rival,  unfriendly  as  she  was  to  my 
interests,  was  no  enemy,  it  appeared,  to  the  pleasures 
of  the  world.  Fame  did  not  give  her  credit  for  a 
more  faithful  attachment  to  the  Prince,  her  lover,  than 
to  the  Marquis  her  husband.  It  was  against  her  infi- 
delity that  I  directed  all  my  batteries.  Employing 
certain  spies,  whom  I  induced,  by  the  liberality  of  my 
bribes,  to  watch  her  conduct  with  unceasing  vigilance, 
I  was  at  length  informed  that  the  lady  had  lately 
fallen  in  love  with  a  comedian  of  the  name  of  Octavio, 
who  generally  played  the  principal  characters  at  the 
Prince's  Theatre  ;  that  not  contented  with  admitting 
him  almost  daily  to  her  toilette,  she  frequently  went  to 
his  house  in  a  hired  coach,  disguised  as  a  common 
woman  ;  in  short,  that  there  was  no  reason  to  doubt 
but  that  these  interviews  were  interviews  of  gallantry. 

Overjoyed  as  I  was  on  receiving  this  information,  I 
thought  it  prudent  to  ascertain  its  truth  before  I  ven- 
tured to  reap  from  it  the  harvest  it  seemed  to  pro- 
mise; and  with  this  view  I  sent  to  Octavio,  and  re- 
quested that  he  would  do  me  the  favour  to  sup  with 
me  alone  in  the  evening,  as  I  had  something  of  con- 
sequence to  communicate  to  him. 

The  ach  r  of  course  accepted  the  invitation,  and 
came  to  me  at  the  appointed  time.  "Octavio,"  said 
I  to  him  towards  the  conclusion  of  the  evenine,  "I 
have  a  very  unpleasant  piece  of  news  to  communi- 
cate to  you.  The  Duke  has  been  made  acquainted 
with  the  partiality  which  the  Marchioness  of  Origo  has 


200  THE  HISTORY  OF 

lately  conceived  for  you,  and  that  you  frequently 
have  secret  interviews  with  each  other." 

Octavio,  excellent  actor  as  he  was,  turned  pale, 
and  discovered  great  confusion  at  this  intelligence. 
Without  seeming  to  notice  his  disorder,  I  continued 
my  discourse  :  "  You  know,  Octavio,  that  I  am  your 
friend  ;  I  have  given  you  more  than  one  testimony  of 
it ;  and  I  think  I  shall  not  prove  myself  very  unkind 
in  giving  you  advice  upon  this  occasion.  If  I  were  in 
your  situation,  I  would  throw  myself  at  the  feet  of 
the  Prince,  and  make  a  candid  confession  to  him  of 
all  that  has  passed.  You  are  not  ignorant  of  the 
goodness  of  his  disposition  ;  a  frank  and  sincere 
avowal  will  subdue  his  anger.  I  am  sure  he  will  for- 
give your  inability  to  resist  the  advances  of  so  fine 
a  woman  ;  and  I  will  not  only  introduce  you  to  his 
Highness,  but  will  use  my  interest  with  him  in  your 
favour." 

The  actor  had  too  much  good  sense  not  to  reject 
such  advice  from  a  man  whom  he  well  knew  to  be  the 
mortal  enemy  of  the  Marchioness  ;  and  concluding 
that  my  only  reason  for  advising  him  to  adopt  so 
delicate  a  measure  was  to  obtain  proof  of  a  fact,  the 
existence  of  which  only  rested  on  suspicion,  he  chose 
to  deny  that  he  had  ever  been  so  presumptuous  as  to 
raise  even  a  thought  in  favour  of  the  Marchioness. 

The  fact,  however,  was  true,  and  in  two  days  I  was 
clearly  convinced  of  it. 

Early  the  ensuing  morning,  one  of  my  spies  in- 
formed me  that  the  Marchioness  was  gone,  in  a  hired 
carriage  and  in  her  usual  disguise,  to  Octavio's  house  ; 
and  that  I  might,  if  I  pleased,  see  her  return.  Dress- 
ing myself  immediately,  and  following  my  conductor, 
we  concealed  ourselves  a  few  paces  from  the  come- 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  201 

dian's  house,  from  whence  the  lady,  whom  I  recognised 
by  her  gait,  notwithstanding  her  disguise,  soon  issued  ; 
but  to  make  assurance  doubly  sure,  I  approached  and 
lilted  up  the  veil  which  concealed  her  face.  At  the 
sight  of  me  she  uttered  an  involuntary  scream ;  I 
apologised  for  the  liberty  I  had  taken,  by  pretending 
that  I  had  mistaken  her  for  another  lady  ;  but  she  ran 
from  me  without  speaking  a  word,  and  jumping  into 
the  coach,  which  was  waiting  at  a  short  distance, 
disappeared  in  a  moment. 

Charmed  with  the  idea  that  I  could  testify  from 
my  own  view,  that  she  had  visited  Octavio,  I  ran  to 
the  palace,  with  an  air  of  triumph,  to  recount  what  I 
had  seen  ;  but  unfortunately  the  Duke  was  gone  out, 
and  did  not  return  until  two  hours  afterwards,  when, 
observing  the  emotion  of  my  countenance,  "  What  is 
the  matter  with  you  ?  "  said  the  Prince  ;  "you  appear 
agitated." 

"Sir,"  replied  I,  "the  character  of  your  Highness 
is  too  dear  to  me,  not  to  be  affected  by  the  base 
treachery  which  is  practised  against  j'ou." 

"  Speak  more  explicitly,"  interrupted  the  Duke. 
"  Who  is  it  that  betrays  me  ? — What  is  the  perfidy  ?  " 

"  The  Marchioness,"  replied  I,  "  is  a  faithless 
woman,  whom  your  Highness  ought  to  abandon. 
Ungratefully  forgetting  the  love  with  which  you 
honour  her " 

"  Peralta,"  interrupted  the  Prince,  looking  at  me 
with  an  angry  eye,  "  take  care  what  j'ou  say ;  for  I 
perceive  your  hatred  to  the  Marchioness  discolours 
aJi  her  actions,  and  you  condemn  her.  possibly  upon 
false  appearances.  What  new  crime  can  she  have 
committed,  that  you  should  brand  her  with  the 
epithets  of  treacherous  and  ungrateful  ?  " 


202  THE  HISTORY  OE 

"  I  should  be  justified,"  replied  I,  "  if  I  were  to 
apply  a  term  still  more  odious  ;  for  she  has  this  morn- 
ing- been  with  Octavio,  the  comedian,  in  a  hired  car- 
riage, under  the  disguise  of  a  common  woman.  I 
myself  saw  her  issue  from  the  actor's  house,  where  her 
depraved  passion  has  frequently  before  conducted  her." 

"  What  calumny  !  "  exclaimed  the  Duke.  "  Is  it 
possible  to  impute  to  the  Marchioness  such  base 
notions  ?  But,  happily  for  her,  I  am  convinced  of  her 
innocence  and  of  your  malice.  I  have  this  moment 
returned  from  the  company  of  that  lady,  who  is  so 
unwell  that  she  has  not  only  been  obliged  to  keep  the 
house  the  whole  morning,  but  to  be  bled  ;  and  the 
surgeon  has  taken  from  her  three  porringers  of  blood, 
which  are  now  standing  on  the  table  in  her  apartment. 
What  would  you  say,  were  I  to  show  you  this  proof 
of  her  innocence  ?  " 

"  I  should  say,"  replied  I,  "  that  the  blood  is  not  her 
own,  but  artfully  placed  there  to  screen  her  guilt." 

The  Duke  censured  my  obstinacy,  and,  notwith- 
standing all  I  said  to  support  my  charge  against  the 
accused,  seemed  to  impute  all  the  blame  to  the  accuser. 

The  three  porringers  of  blood  presented  a  mystery 
which  I  resolved  immediately  to  unravel  ;  and,  order- 
ing my  spies  to  find  out  the  Marchioness's  surgeon 
and  bring  him  instantly  before  me,  a  service  which 
they  soon  performed,  I  told  him,  by  way  of  intimida- 
tion, "The  Duke  commands  you, on  pain  of  perpetual 
imprisonment,  to  inform  me  whether  you  have  this 
morning  bled  the  Marchioness  of  Origo." 

The  surgeon  turned  pale  at  these  words,  and  replied 
with  a  terrified  aspect,  "  There  is  no  occasion  for 
menaces  to  induce  obedience  to  the  commands  of  my 
sovereign.     In  answer  to  your  question,  I  was  this 


X'ANILLO  GONZALES.  203 

morning  sent  for  to  the  Marchioness's  house,  to  bleed 
one  of  her  female  attendants;  from  whose  arm  I  took 
three  porringers  of  blood,  and  came  away." 

"  Then  it  was  not  the  Marchioness  that  you  bled  ? " 
said  I. 

"  No,  sir,"  replied  the  surgeon  ;  "  I  did  not  even  see 
hex  ladyship." 

Upon  the  surgeon's  report,  I  ventured  to  assure  the 
Duke  that  the  blood  was  not  drawn  from  the  vein  of 
his  mistress,  and  that  she  had  artfully  affected  indis- 
position the  better  to  conceal  the  fact  of  her  having 
been  that  morning  with  Octavio.  The  Duke,  blinded 
by  the  violence  of  his  passion,  warmly  maintained 
that  she  was  incapable  of  such  gross  duplicity.  "  I 
am  convinced,"  said  he, <:  that  the  Marchioness  would 
disdain  to  resort  to  so  mean  a  subterfuge;  but,  to 
satisfy  myself  more  fully  upon  this  subject,  I  am 
determined  immediately  to  inspect  her  arm,  and  if  I 
do  not  find  a  recent  incision  on  it  with  the  lancet,  I 
will  give  entire  credit  to  all  you  have  told  me,  and 
abandon  the  perfidious  coquette  for  ever ;  but,  Peralta," 
continued  he  with  a  stern  and  menacing  aspect,  "  if 
there  be  the  appearance  of  a  recent  puncture,  you 
may  be  assured  that  I  will  revenge  the  malicious 
injuries  which  you  have  inflicted,  by  your  rash  asper- 
sion on  her  innocent  character." 

Being  persuaded  that  the  whole  of  her  story  to  the 
Duke  was  a  mere  fabrication,  without  any  support 
except  her  own  assertion,  I  submitted  cheerfully  to 
the  penalty  he  imposed.  The  Prince  accordingly 
visited  the  Marchioness  early  in  the  evening,  under 
pretence  of  inquiring  the  state  of  her  health.  Of 
the  conversation  which  passed  between  them  during 
this  important  interview  I  am  totally  ignorant ;  but 


2<h  THE  HISTORY  OF 

on  the  ensuing  day,  when  I  presented  myself  before 
him,   he   received    me  with   an   air  of  coldness   and! 
disdain.    "The  Marchioness,"  said  he  abruptly,  "was1 
bled   yesterday  morning ;    it  is  a   fact   which    I    canj 
attest ;    for  I   removed   the  bandage  from    her    arm, 
and  saw,  with  my  own  eyes,  the  incision  which  the 
lancet  had  made.     Trouble  my  repose  no  longer  by 
such  unfounded  accusations.    I  had  rather  be  deceived 
by   a   mistress    than    owe    her    fidelity    merely   to    a 
vigilance  on  her  conduct." 

Confounded  and  struck  dumb  by  this  peremptory 
declaration,  I  could  only  contemplate  with  astonish- 
ment the  falsehood  of  the  surgeon  or  the  artifice  of 
the  Marchioness,  who,  I  concluded,  had  procured  a 
puncture  to  be  made  by  some  other  operator.  My 
silence,  however,  was  interpreted  by  the  Duke  as 
unerring  evidence  of  ray  guilt;  and,  considering  me 
in  the  character  of  a  lying  informer,  abashed  by  un- 
expected detection,  turned  his  back  upon  me,  and 
ordered  the  captain  of  his  guards  to  tell  me  not  to 
appear  again  at  court. 

The  disgrace  to  which  this  sentence  of  exile  at 
once  consigned  me,  afflicted  me  for  some  time  with 
excruciating  severity;  and  my  torments  were  not 
alleviated  by  the  reflection  that  I  had  fallen  a  victim 
to  the  superior  artifices  of  a  woman,  whose  influence 
it  was  my  settled  purpose  to  destroy;  but,  at  length, 
philosophy  came  kindly  to  my  aid,  -and  enabled  me 
to  view  the  high  and  comfortless  stations  of  ambition 
with  very  different  sentiments  ;  and  religion  also 
interposing  its  assistance,  I  adopted  notions  which, 
by  degrees,  detached  my  mind  completely  from  the 
world  and  its  concerns.  I  accordingly  quitted  the 
court  of  Parma,  and  retired  to  Genoa;  from  whence 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  205 

I  seized  the  earliest  opportunity  of  returning  to 
Spain  ;  and,  embarking  on  board  a  vessel  for  that 
purpose,  reached  Alicant,  where  I  purchased  a  horse 
and  proceeded  towards  Pampeluna ;  but,  like  you, 
missing  my  road,  I  arrived,  towards  evening,  at  this 
hermitage,  the  door  of  which  was  opened  at  my 
request,  and  I  was  received  by  a  venerable  old  man, 
who,  though  eighty  years  of  age,  was  still  able 
to  walk  without  a  stick,  and  enjoyed  the  most  perfect 
health.  This  hospitable  inhabitant  treated  me  in 
the  same  manner  as  I  have  treated  you  ;  and  the 
conversations  which  he  held  with  me  perfected  my 
resolution  to  renounce  all  future  conversation  with 
the  world.  To  conclude  my  story  in  a  few  words,  I 
implored  the  old  man  to  permit  me  to  continue  with 
him  in  the  enjoyment  of  this  solitary  retreat :  he 
granted  my  request;  and  I  have  resided  from  that 
moment  in  this  hermitage,  occupied  only  by  the 
hopes  of  heaven.  I  did  not  even  visit  Pampeluna : 
the  pleasure  of  seeing  my  father  and  my  sister  was 
the  first  sacrifice  I  made  to  God.  I  passed  ten  years 
with  the  virtuous  hermit  in  this  humble  cell,  and  ten 
more  have  now  elapsed  since  his  decease. 

The  recluse  here  concluded  his  narrative;  and, 
returning  him  thanks  for  his  civility,  I  told  him, 
with  perhaps  a  smile  on  my  countenance,  that  I  was 
tempted  to  follow  his  example. 

"You  are  yet  too  young,"  said  he,  "to  embrace  a 
mode  of  life  which  requires  that  its  votaries  should 
be  satiated  with  the  pleasures  of  the  world,  and  be 
thoroughly  satisfied  of  its  vanities  and  vexations,  in 
order  to  quit  it  with  propriety.  It  is  the  want  of 
this  knowledge  that  fills  the  cloister  with  so  many 
unworthy  inmates." 


zo6  J  HE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

VANILLO  TAKES  HIS  LEAVE  OF  THE  HERMIT,  AND  PRO- 
CEEDS TO  SARAGOSSA  /  FROM  WHENCE  HE  RETURNS 
TO  RODENAS  WITH  GOOD  NEWS  FOR  DON  CHRISTOVAL 
THE  CONSEQUENCE  OF  THIS  NEWS. 

RISING  the  ensuing-  morning  before  the  break  of 
day,  and  bidding  adieu  to  my  host,  with  repeated 
thanks  for  the  kind  reception  he  had  afforded  me,  I 
mounted  my  horse  and  jogged  on  towards  Saragossa, 
where  I  arrived  before  noon. 

The  Governor  and  his  daughter  were  conversing, 
in  the  parlour,  with  the  Bishop  of  Salamanca  when 
I  entered  the  room;  but  the  moment  they  perceived 
me  they  all  rose  from  their  seats,  and  crowding 
round  me,  asked  me  a  thousand  questions  at  the 
same  time : — "  How  is  my  son-in-law's  health  ? 
What  news  from  my  nephew  ? — In  what  situation 
have  you  left  my  husband  ?" 

"  My  lords  and  my  lady,"  replied  I,  "  I  have  left 
my  master  in  perfect  health  ;  and  as  to  the  treat- 
ment he  receives  from  his  Grace  of  Albarazin.  here 
are  letters  which  will  afford  you  ample  information." 
— I  accordingly  drew  my  papers  from  my  pocket,  and 
delivered  to  each  of  them  the  respective  despatch. 

I  expected  that  the  very  long  accounts  which 
Don  Christoval  had  given  of  the  several  instances  of 
friendship  and  respect  he  received  at  Rodenas  would 
have  satisfied  their  curiosity,  but  I  was  mistaken  ; 
for  they  had  no  sooner  read  their  letters  than  they 
began  a  new  course  of  interrogatories,  and   obliged 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  20* 

me  to  relate  the  most  minute  particulars,  not  only 
of  our  voyage,  but  even  of  the  Bishop's  castle.  The 
performance  of  these  tasks  afforded  me  but  little 
respite ;  for  dinner  was  no  sooner  over  than  Donna 
Anna,  wishing  to  make  some  more  particular  in- 
quiries, desired  me  to  wait  on  her. 

"  Well,  Gonzales,"  said  she,  "  if  you  have  given  us, 
as  I  have  no  doubt  you  have,  a  faithful  report,  your 
master  must  be  extremely  well  satisfied  with  so 
delightful  a  place,  where  every  person  seems  so 
anxious  to  make  him  happy.  The  assistance  he 
derives  from  the  delights  of  Rodenas  enables  him 
I  conceive,  to  endure  my  absence  with  tolerable 
patience  ? " 

"  O  madam!"  replied  T,  "entertain  a  more  favour- 
able opinion  of  the  power  of  your  charms,  and  ren- 
der more  justice  to  the  sentiments  of  a  husband 
who  adores  you  :  it  is  not  easy  for  any  amusement 
to  banish  a  lady  of  your  merit  and  beauty  from  his 
mind  ;  he  is  for  ever  invoking  his  charming  lovely 
Donna  Anna,  who  seems  to  accompany  all  his 
thoughts,  and  mix  in  all  his  expressions.  'Vanillo,' 
said  he  to  me,  as  I  was  coming  away,  'O  Vanillo! 
How  I  envy  you  the  happiness  of  seeing  my  charming 
Donna  Anna,  from  whom  Heaven  in  its  wrath  thus 
cruelly  separates  me  ! '  " 

A  celestial  smile  beamed  from  the  features  of 
Donna  Anna  while  I  uttered  these  words.  "Vanillo," 
said  she,  with  a  soft  and  tender  air,  "  tell  me  honestly, 
don't  deceive  me,  does  Don  Christoval  really  find 
the  days  of  our  separation  tedious  and  unpleasant?" 

"The  days,  madam!"  exclaimed  I;  "ah!  rather 
say  the  moments  ;  he  would  sink  under  the  pangs  of 
absence,  if  Heaven  did  not  enable  him  to  endure  it." 


2o8  THE  HISTORY  OF 

I  must  confess,  however,  that  I  did  gild  the  pill  a 
little;  for,  although  Don  Christoval  was  certainly 
extremely  fond  of  his  wife,  he  was  in  no  actual  danger 
of  dying  with  grief  on  account  of  her  absence. 

Donna  Anna  then  informed  me,  that  she  enter- 
tained the  most  flattering  prospects  of  her  husband's 
speedy  return ;  for  that  her  father  had  already  had 
two  conferences  with  the  relations  of  the  deceased 
Don  Melchior,  in  which  they  candidly  confessed  that 
he  had  been  the  sole  aggressor,  and  seemed  well 
disposed  to  accommodation.  The  Bishop,  in  short, 
•managed  so  well,  that  the  matter  was  immediately 
concluded,  and  I  was  despatched  to  bear  the  glad 
tidings  to  the  Castle  of  Rodenas. 

This  accommodation  procured  to  Don  Christoval 
too  many  advantages  to  permit  him  to  stay  any  longer 
at  the  castle;  and  accordingly,  taking  leave  of  the 
good  Prelate  with  every  testimony  of  gratitude,  he 
returned  gaily  to  Saragossa;  where  a  charming  wife, 
equally  loving  and  beloved,  awaited  his  return. 

On  the  arrival  of  Don  Christoval  at  Saragossa,  joy 
and  gladness  animated  every  bosom ;  the  hymeneal 
entertainments  were  renewed  ;  and  the  young  couple 
at  length  tasted,  in  undisturbed  tranquillity,  the  sweet 
enjoyments  of  honourable  love. 

A  period  of  two  months  was  consumed  in  balls, 
concerts,  and  other  amusements,  when  his  Grace  of 
Salamanca  returned  with  his  nephew  and  niece  to  his 
diocese.  Crossing,  by  short  journeys,  Old  Castile, 
we  stopped  at  the  Castle  of  Rodeliana,  a  palace  be- 
longing to  the  Bishop,  situated  on  the  confines  of  the 
province  of  Leon,  where  we  continued  for  three  weeks 
to  receive  the  visits  of  the  neighbouring  nobility  and 
gentry ;  and,  as  his  Grace  was  celebrated  for  his  hos- 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  209 

pitality  and  polite  attention  to  every  description  1  f 
visitors,  the  meanest  Hidalgos  came  every  day  to  his 
table,  and,  presenting  themselves  boldly  to  his  Grace, 
with  high  feathers  in  their  caps  and  long  swords 
by  their  sides,  were  received  in  a  way  not  likely  to 
decrease  their  vanity.  At  length  we  returned  to 
Salamanca,  and  took  up  our  abode  in  the  Episcopal 
Palace. 


•• 


2io  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

THE  CONDUCT  OF  VANILLO  ON  HIS  RETURN  TO  SALA- 
MANCA ;  THE  IMPORTANT  SERVICE  HE  RENDERED 
HIS  FRIEND  VANEGAS ;  AND  BY  WHAT  ACCIDENT  HE 
RECEIVED  INTELLIGENCE  OF  SIGNORA  DAI.FA  AND 
THE   JILT  BERNARDINA. 

A  PREDICTION,  on  being  discharged  from  my  former 
service,  that  I  should  again  return  to  Salamanca  in 
the  course  of  six  or  seven  years,  in  a  better  situation 
than  before,  would  have  been  ridiculed  ;  although,  as 
it  happened,  it  would  certainly  have  been  true. 

I  was  now  secretary  to  a  young  nobleman  who 
esteemed  me,  and  commensal  to  an  episcopal  palace 
upon  other  terms  than  before ;  for  I  no  longer  dieted 
with  the  liveried  tribe,  but,  like  the  almoners,  equer- 
ries, gentlemen,  and  valct-de-chambres,  had  my  own 
cover  at  the  major-domo's  table,  which  was  served  as 
plentifully  at  least  as  that  of  his  Grace. 

Vanegas,  whom  I  found  precisely  in  the  same 
situation  in  which  I  had  left  him,  that  is  to  say,  a 
chorister  of  the  cathedral,  was  the  first  person  I  went 
to  see.  Having  cordially  embraced  each  other,  he 
cast  his  eye.;  upon  my  dress,  which  was  both  neat  and 
fashionable  ;  and  observing  my  long  sword,  silk  stock- 
ings, fine  ruffles,  and  feathered  beaver,  stared  at  me 
with  extreme  surprise,  and  congratulated  me,  poor 
soul !  on  the  great  fortune  I  must  have  made  since 
he  last  saw  me.  But  I  soon  undeceived  him  by  re- 
lating to  him  the  particulars  of  my  Italian  expedition, 
and  informed  him  of  my  present  re-establishment  in 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  2il 

the  Bishop's  family;  on  which  he  rejoiced  with  un- 
affected cordiality.  <!  Course,  my  good  friend,"  cried 
he  ;  "I  perceive,  however,  you  are  in  the  road  of  ad- 
vancement: you  have  wisely  embarked  your  fortunes 
in  the  service  of  Don  Christoval,  who  is  as  liberal  as 
he  is  accomplished,  and  will  certainly  remunerate 
your  attachment.  I  am  delighted  to  find  that  fortune 
favours  you  so  highly." 

"But  as  to  yourself,  Vanegas,"  said  I,  "do  you 
always  intend  to  continue  a  'horister?  An  ecclesi- 
astic of  your  merit  might  fairly  expect  promotion. 
Have  you  never  made  any  application  for  a  higher 
situation  in  the  cathedral  ?  " 

"  Never,"  replied  Vanegas.  "  Priests  in  general 
spend  their  whole  lives  in  hunting  after  benefices, 
which,  when  obtained,  only  excite  new  desires  for 
further  promotion  ;  but,  thank  Heaven  !  I  am  neither 
avaricious  nor  ambitious  ;  and  being  contented  with 
my  present  situation,  bad  as  it  is,  have  never  used  the 
least  endeavour  to  procure  a  better.  I  can,  indeed, 
say  still  more ;  for  there  is  a  stall  in  our  chapter  now 
vacant  by  the  death  of  the  licentiate  Baptiste  Leon, 
and  I  might  with  justice  aspire  to  succeed  him;  but, 
as  I  must  necessarily  undergo  the  pain  of  soliciting 
friends  to  apply  to  the  Bishop  in  my  favour,  and 
pursue  measures  which  do  not  perfectly  coincide  with 
my  temper  and  disposition,  I  choose  rather  to  decline 
the  contest  with  a  good  grace,  than  undertake  a 
trouble  which  may  probably  end  in  disappointment. 
Besides,  I  have  enough  to  maintain  me  with  decency, 
and  that  is  all  a  virtuous  divine  ought  ever  to  require." 

The  humble  views  and  mild  character  of  my  good 
old  friend  quite  charmed  me  ;  and,  while  I  openly 
applauded  his  noble  sentiments,  I  felt  the  warmest 


212  THE  HISTORY  OF 

inclination  to  promote  his  interests  ;  but,  as  I  could 
have  no  right  to  expect  much  influence  with  his 
Grace,  I  was  perfectly  silent  on  the  subject  to  him, 
though  I  resolved  not  to  neglect  any  means  in  my 
power  to  serve  a  friend  who  was  so  dear  to  my  heart.  I 
accordingly  applied  immediately  to  Don  Christoval; 
and,  informing  him  of  the  vacancy,  requested  he  would 
prevail  upon  the  Bishop,  his  uncle,  to  appoint  my 
worthy  friend,  to  whom,  I  assured  him,  I  was  under 
the  greatest  obligations. 

"  The  disposition  which  you  show,  Vanillo,  to  serve 
your  friend,  affords  me  the  highest  pleasure,"  replied 
Don  Christoval.  "  Friendship  is  a  sacred  duty,  which 
men  in  all  ranks  of  life  ought  carefully  to  perform, 
and  therefore  I  will  certainly  make  the  application  you 
desire  ;  but,"  continued  he,  "  why  do  you  not  rather 
make  this  request  to  my  uncle  yourself  ?  I  am  sure 
he  will  be  pleased  to  grant  it  to  you.  I  know  he 
entertains  a  great  regard  for  you.  Go,  go  to  him, 
Vanillo  ;  you  will  have  no  occasion,  I  am  certain,  for 
my  assistance  upon  this  occasion." 

The  Prelate  and  I  were  in  truth  upon  excellent 
terms  with  each  other.  Being  entertained  by  the 
gaiety  of  my  answers,  he  never  failed  to  converse  with 
me  whenever  we  met.  The  good  man,  indeed,  was 
not  one  of  those  fastidious  gentlemen,  whom  nothing 
can  divert  but  pointed  sayings  and  seasoned  repartees. 
A  risible  blunder,  or  any  joke  which  tended  to  raise 
an  innocent  laugh,  was  more  acceptable  to  him  than 
the  finest  points  in  Martial's  epigrams. 

Early  one  morning,  while  he  was  alone  in  his  study, 
I  ventured  to  wait  upon  him,  and  request  the  vacant 
prebend.  "  How,  Vanillo  !  "  exclaimed  the  Bishop, 
smiling,  "  are  you  inclined  to  become  a  member  of 


VANILLO  GONZALES. 


213 


the  church  ?     Can  you  perform  the  laborious  duty  of 
a  canon  ?" 

"  Why  not,  sir  ?  "  replied  I.  "  I  can  say  my  bre- 
viary, and  eat  my  four  meals  a  day,  as  well  as  any 
man." 

"Yes,"  replied  his  Grace;  "and  it  seems  that  your 
modesty  is  equal  to  your  sobriety." 

"Nearly  so,  my  lord,"  replied  I,  "and  my  learning 
also  in  proportion  ;  and  therefore  your  Grace  perceives 
I  am  not  unqualified  to  fill  a  stall  in  your  cathedral." 

"  Why,  it  does  seem,  indeed,"  replied  his  Grace, 
laughing  aloud,  "  that  I  cannot,  without  doing  great 
injustice  to  your  merit,  refuse  your  request.  But  tell 
me,  Vanillo,"  continued  he,  resuming  a  serious  air, 
"  for  whom  is  it  that  you  solicit  so  earnestly  this  vacant 
stall  ?  Does  your  candidate  really  deserve  to  possess 
it  ?  You  should  be  very  certain  upon  this  point ;  for 
you  will  recollect,  that  by  procuring  church  preferment 
for  a  friend,  you  thereby  become,  in  a  certain  degree, 
responsible  for  his  virtue." 

"Oh!  sir,"  replied  I,  "the  ecclesiastic  in  whose 
favour  I  am  applying  does  not  want  sureties." 

"  Who  is  this  virtuous  character  ?  "  said  the  Bishop ; 
"  for  there  are  but  few  of  his  description  in  my  cathe- 
dral." 

No  sooner,  however,  did  I  mention  the  name  of  the 
chorister  Vanegas,  than  the  Prelate  replied  with  an 
air  of  satisfaction,  "  You  are  right,  Vanillo  ;  he  is 
indeed  a  proper  person.  You  could  not  name  another 
man  I  should  so  well  approve  of.  He  is  an  honest 
man,  of  correct  manners  and  noble  sentiments  ;  and  I 
wish  all  my  choristers  were  half  as  wise  as  he  is." 

Returning  my  very  humble  thanks  to  the  reverend 
Prelate  for  having  granted  me  this  favour,  I  carried 


2H  THE  HISTORY  OF 

the  glad  tidings  immediately  to  my  friend  ;  who,  on 
perceiving  my  emotion,  exclaimed  with  alarm,  as  I 
entered  his  apartment,  "  Good  God  !  Vanillo,  what  is 
the  matter  with  you  ?  What  does  this  violent  agita- 
tion import  ?  " 

"  It  imports,"  exclaimed  I,  "  that  you  are  appointed 
to  succeed  the  licentiate  Ba~ptiste  Leon.  The  Bishop 
has,  at  my  request,  conferred  on  you  the  vacant  pre- 
bend ;  and  I  seize  with  eager  joy  this  opportunity  to 
convince  you  that  I  can  never  forget  the  kind  offices 
you  have  rendered  me." 

The  modest  chorister,  less  delighted  with  a  pro- 
motion which  rendered  him  easy  and  independent  for 
life,  than  with  the  feelings  of  gratitude  which  had 
procured  it  him,  burst  into  tears  of  joy,  and  clasping 
me  with  rapture  in  his  arms,  expressed  sentiments 
which  made  me  feel,  with  exquisite  sensibility,  that 
there  is  no  pleasure  equal  to  that  which  results  from 
servinsf  a  real  friend. 

As  I  was  returning  from  this  interesting  scene,  I 
accidentally  met  with  that  ingenious  scholar,  Don 
Ramirez  de  Prado,  the  man  who,  while  we  lodged 
together  in  friendly  iatercourse'at  the  house  of  Dr. 
Canizares,  taught  me  wit  by  easing  me  of  my  money. 
Recollecting  each  other  at  the  same  instant,  "  What 
pleasure  I  feel,"  cried  he,  "in  meeting  with  Signor 
Vanillo  Gonzales,  my  old  companion  and  my  worthy 
friend,  after  a  separation  of  six  years  !  From  whence 
do  you  come  ?  What  have  you  been  doing  since  the 
day  you  vanished  so  suddenly  from  the  University?" 

"  I  have  been  travelling  for  soms  years  in  Italy," 
said  I. 

"  And  I,"  said  he,  "have  been  at  Madrid,  where  I 
should  have  remained  at  this  moment,  if  the  death  of 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  215 

my  father,  and  my  anxiety  to  possess  myself  of  his 
fortune,  had  not  recalled  me  to  this  country,  which, 
you  know,  is  the  place  of  my  birth."  He  was  in  fact 
an  Hidalgo  of  Corita,  a  populous  town  about  three- 
and-twenty  miles  from  Salamanca. 

Don  Ramirez,  of  whom  I  inquired  after  Signora 
Dalfa  and  her  niece  Bernardina,  informed  me  that 
although  he  had  not  seen  them  lately,  he  was  not 
ignorant  of  their  present  situation.  "  The  aunt,"  said 
he,  "  resides  at  Toledo,  and  kindly  assists  the  Governor 
of  Castile  to  consume  the  emoluments  of  his  office  ; 
while  her  niece  riots  at  Madrid,  where  she  is  supported 
by  Count  Medallin,  in  the  highest  style  of  fashionable 
folly  and  extravagance." 

"These  good  ladies,"  said  I,  "had  no  lovers  in  this 
style  when  I  lavished  on  them  my  pistoles ;  but 
women  of  intrigue  frequently  end  where  they  ought 
to  have  begun.  It  seems,  however,  as  if  these  gentle- 
men were  fonder  of  the  bran  than  the  meal." 

Don  Ramirez,  after  this  conversation,  informed  me 
that  he  was  obliged  to  return  almost  immediately  to 
Madrid  ;  but  that  he  certainly  would  not  go  away 
without  seeing  me  again. 

The  promise  was  voluntarily  made;  but  whether 
he  really  forgot  it,  or  had  reasons  for  not  calling,  his 
promise  was  never  performed. 


216  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER   XXIX. 

THE  MELANCHOLY  ACCIDENT  WHICH  HAPPENED  THREE 
MONTHS  AFTERWARDS  AT  THE  EPISCOPAL  PALACE; 
THE  REVOLUTION  IT  PRODUCED  /  AND  THE  COURSE 
WHICH  VANILLO  STEERED  BY  THE  ADVICE  OF  VANE- 
GAS. 

The  mode  of  life  we  enjoyed  in  the  Episcopal  Palace 
was  the  happiest  imaginable  ;  for,  what  is  very  extra- 
ordinary in  a  nobleman's  house,  where  envy  and 
malice  generally  prevail,  no  faction  or  animosity 
whatever  existed.  But  while  time  flowed  on  in  un- 
interrupted felicity,  a  melancholy  event  took  place, 
which  spread  dismay  and  consternation  through  every 
department  in  the  palace.  The  Bishop  became  dan- 
gerously ill ;  and  his  doctors,  who  at  first  assured  us 
that,  notwithstanding  his  advanced  age,  the  disorder 
was  not  likely  to  be  fatal,  despatched  him,  in  defiance 
of  their  own  prognostics,  with  such  prompt  dexterity, 
that  he  had  not  even  time  to  make  his  will. 

This  circumstance  caused  great  affliction,  particu- 
larly to  those  domestics  whose  long  services  fairly 
entitled  them  to  extraordinary  recompense  ;  but  Don 
Christoval,  finding  himself  the  Bishop's  sole  heir, 
generously  dried  up  their  tears,  by  promising  to  allow 
them  pensions  according  to  their  deserts.  Unfortu- 
nately for  them,  however,  Don  Christoval  was  not 
allowed  time  to  perform  his  promise ;  for  only  a  few 
days  after  he  had  attended  his  uncle  to  the  grave,  he 
was  thrown  fromNhis  horse  while  he  was  hunting,  and 
received  a  contusion,  of  which  he  died  in  two  hours 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  217 

after  his  fall.  The  young  widow,  indeed,  remem- 
bered and  rewarded  their  faithful  services,  but  it  was 
by  presents  of  such  moderate  value,  as  was  scarcely 
sufficient  to  raise  a  sense  of  gratitude  in  their  hearts. 
As  for  myself,  the  loss  of  my  dear  master  affected  my 
mind  to  such  a  degree,  that  in  the  excess  of  my  grief  I 
was  tempted  to  immure  myself  in  the  great  convent 
of  Franciscan  Friars  for  the  remainder  of  my  life. 
Happily  my  friend  Vanegas,  whom  I  consulted  upon 
this  extraordinary  measure,  convinced  me,  without 
much  eloquence,  that  the  cloister  was  not  my  element, 
and  prevented  me  from  executing  this  rash  design. 
"  I  am  well  acquainted  with  your  character/'  said  he  : 
"you  are  by  nature  light  and  volatile;  you  would 
scarce  have  entered  your  novitiate  before  you  would 
be  diseusted  with  monastic  life  ;  and  I  am  sure  the 
examples  of  the  monks  would  not  be  sufficiently 
powerful  to  turn  your  discontent  into  a  vocation. 
Let  me  rather  advise  you,"  added  he,  "to  go  to 
Murcia,  and  visit  your  relations,  particularly  your 
uncle,  Damien  Carnicero,  the  protector  of  your 
infancy.  From  what  you  have  related  to  me  concern- 
ing him,  it  seems  probable  that  he  may  have  amassed 
by  this  time  considerable  wealth,  and  perhaps  you 
will  not  have  long  to  wait  before  you  enjoy  the  rich 
inheritance.  Suppose  even  that  he  should  be  dead, 
you  being,  as  you  have  assured  me,  his  heir,  you  will 
be  the  better  able  to  call  to  an  account  those  relations 
who  have  possessed  themselves  of  his  property." 

As  the  Prebend's  advice  coincided  with  my  own 
sentiments  on  this  subject,  I  resolved  to  follow  it; 
and  bidding  him  adieu,  departed  from  Salamanca, 
and  arrived,  by  the  assistance  of  the  muleteers,  at 
Madrid  ,  from  wnence  pursuing,  by  the  same  means, 


218  THE  HISTORY  UP 

the  road  to  Cuenca,  I  reached,  in  eight  days  after- 
wards, the  city  of  Murcia,  which  I  could  not  behold 
again  without  emotions  of  the  highest  pleasure. 

Conceiving  it  would  be  prudent  to  make  some 
inquiries  respecting  my  uncle's  situation  before  I 
ventured  to  his  house,  I  alighted  at  the  first  hotel, 
where,  without  making  myself  known,  I  entered  into 
a  long  conversation  with  the  host,  who  appeared  to 
be  the  very  man  who  could  best  inform  me  of  every- 
thing it  was  necessary  I  should  know.  "  Pray,"  said 
I,  "  is  Damien  Carnicero  still  alive,  and  does  he  still 
continue  principal  surgeon  to  the  City  Hospital  ?" 

"  He  may  be  said  to  be  still  alive,"  replied  the 
host,  "  if  you  can  call  an  old  man,  who  is  paralytic 
in  every  limb,  a  living  animal.  He  has  long  been 
unable  to  follow  his  profession,  and  is  condemned  to 
pass  his  expiring  days  either  in  his  bed  or  in  his  arm- 
chair." 

"  Is  he  supposed  to  be  rich  ?  "  said  I. 

"  Rich  as  a  Jew,"  replied  the  host ;  "  and  truly  it 
would  be  wonderful  if  lie  were  not,  after  having 
practised  surgery  with  success  so  many  years  ;  for 
this  is  now  a  very  lucrative  profession,  and  Carnicero, 
being  both  a  miser  and  a  quack,  contrived  to  turn 
both  his  money  and  his  trade  to  greater  advantage 
than  any  other  man.  But  I  pity  the  poor  devil  for 
having  <nven  himself  so  much  trouble  to  amass  wealth, 
when  he  has  no  children  to  enjoy  it ;  his  only  heirs 
are  a  nephew  and  a  niece,  who  left  Murcia  about 
twelve  or  fifteen  years  ago,  and  have  not  since  been 
heard  of.  The  members  of  the  hospital,  however, 
may  possibly  be  benefited  by  their  absence." 

This  conversation  convinced  me  that  my  visit  to 
Murcia  was  not  a  bad  speculation  ;  and  in  order  to 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  219 

prevent  the  members  of  the  hospital  from  profiting 
by  my  absence,  I  went  early  on  the  ensuing  morning 
to  the  mansion  of  my  dying  uncle,  who  was  now 
confined  entirely  to  his  bed,  on  one  side  of  which  sat, 
in  close  conference,  a  venerable-looking  monk  of  the 
order  of  St.  Dominic,  and  on  the  other  a  celebrated 
doctor  of  physic ;  the  first  to  render  all  possible 
benefit  to — his  convent,  and  the  last  to  increase  the 
quantity  of  his  fees. 

The  old  man  recollected  me  the  moment  he  cast 
his  eyes  upon  me.  H  By  St.  Coma  and  by  St.  Damin," 
cried  he,  "  here  is  my  nephew  Vanillo,  whom  I  never 
expected  to  see  again." 

Approaching  the  bed,  and  embracing  him  with 
a  mingled  transport  of  interest  and  affection,  half 
fig,  half  raisin,  I  endeavoured  to  testify  that  I  felt 
extreme  pain  to  find  him  in  so  dangerous  a  con- 
dition ;  but  he  cut  me  short,  by  saying,  in  a  tone  of 
jtoicism,  "Do  not  let  us  talk  upon  that  subject,  my 
nephew;  we  must  all,  sooner  or  later,  end  our  days. 
Seventy-two  long  years  have  the  fates  spun  out  my 
life,  and  it  is  now  quite  time  that  their  shears  should 
cut  the  thread."  Having  pronounced  these  words, 
he  expressed  a  desire  to  converse  with  me  in  private. 
The  doctor  and  the  divine  accordingly  withdrew; 
the  countenance  of  the  last,  as  it  appeared  to  me, 
betraying  strong  symptoms  of  mortification  at  the 
unexpected  arrival  of  an  immediate  heir. 


Z2Q  THE  HISTORY  W? 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

THE  PRIVATE  CONVERSATION  WHICH  MASTER  DA  MI  EN 
CARNICERO  HAD  WITH  HIS  NEPHEW. 

My  uncle  perceiving  we  were  alone,  "  Well,  Vanillo," 
said  he,  "you  are  once  more  in  the  house  where  you 
were  reared.  Tell  me,  my  boy,  from  whence  did 
you  come.  Give  me  an  account  of  what  you  have 
been  doing  since  you  quitted  me.  Recollecting  your 
aversion  to  surgery,  I  conclude  you  have  embraced 
some  other  profession ;  and  it  affords  me  great 
pleasure  to  perceive  that  you  do  not  return  to  your 
family  in  the  habit  of  a  prodigal  son  ;  for  if  appear- 
ances may  be  relied  on,  fortune  has  not  been 
unfriendly  to  you." 

"  No,  thank  Heaven  !  "  replied  I,  "  fortune,  which 
has  always  favoured  me,  has  placed  me  in  a  situation 
with  which  I  am  perfectly  contented,  and  from  which 
nothing  but  the  desire  I  felt  of  seeing  you  could  have 
induced  me  to  return.  The  ties  of  consanguinity  and 
gratitude  have  impelled  me  to  abandon  the  court  of 
the  Duke  of  Ossuna,  Viceroy  of  Naples,  to  enjoy  the 
felicity  of  living  at  Murcia  with  an  uncle  to  whom  I 
am  under  so  many  obligations." 

"  Why,"  said  Mr.  Damien,  "  what  employment  then 
had  you  at  the  Court  ?  " 

''  I  was  formerly  the  Duke's  page,"  replied  I,  "  and 
am  now  one  of  his  equerries.  His  Excellency,  to 
whom  I  applied  for  permission  to  return  to  Spain  for 
the   purpose  of  seeing   you,  commended    my  pious 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  22I 

resolution,  and  granted  me  a  leave  of  absence  accord- 

ingly. 

I  shall  leave  the  reader  to  judge,  from  this  example 
of  my  veracity,  how  steadily  I  adhered  to  the  truth, 
when  I  afterwards  related  to  this  good  man  the  whole 
history  of  my  past  life.  I  never  indeed  adhered  to  it, 
except  when  it  did  me  some  honour,  which  I  confess 
was  not  very  frequent,  but  detailed  falsehood  after 
falsehood,  just  as  it  seemed  best  to  answer  the  pur- 
pose of  the  moment.  Anxious,  in  short,  to  appear  a 
man  of  probity  in  the  opinion  of  my  good  uncle 
Damien,  or,  in  other  words,  lo  make  myself  more 
sure  of  his  fortune,  I  did  not  scruple  to  fortify  and 
adorn  my  story  by  mixing  falsehood  with  fact ;  and 
it  produced  an  admirable  effect. 

"  You  are  welcome  home,  my  dear  Vanillo,"  replied 
my  uncle,  when  I  had  finished  my  romance;  "the 
candid  and  ingenious  manner  in  which  you  have 
related  your  voyage  to  Italy,  convinces  me  that  you 
are  not  deficient  in  moral  sentiment;  and  I  rejoice 
more  particularly  at  your  return  because,  not  know- 
ing what  was  become  of  you,  I  was  about  to  bequeath 
all  my  property  to  the  Holy  Fathers  of  the  Convent 
of  St.  Dominic,  and  the  members  of  the  Hospital. 
Yes,  my  dear  child,  I  was  upon  the  very  eve  of 
piously  committing  this  injustice ;  but  thanks  to 
Heaven,  who  without  doubt  has  sent  you  here  to 
prevent  it,  you  are  returned  to  your  family,  and  there 
is  no  longer  any  danger  of  the  riches  you  have  so 
just  a  right  to  being  carried  away  by  the  hands  of 
strangers." 

Convinced  by  this  discourse  that  I  had  had  a  very 
narrow  escape,  I  seized  the  palsied  hand  of  my  dying 
uncle,  and,  kissing  it  with  an  air  of  tenderness  and 


222  THE  HISTORY  OF 

gratitude,  thanked  him  for  his  kind  attention.  A 
testator,  however  strongly  he  may  be  prejudiced 
against  his  heir,  must  always  become  the  dupe,  if  the 
heir  is  well  versed  in  dissimulation.  The  good  man 
entertained  no  doubt  of  my  affection ;  my  professions 
of  sorrow  even  touched  his  heart.  "  Vanillo,"  con- 
tinued he,  "  it  is  therefore  my  intention  to  leave  you 
all  the  wealth  which  I  have  gained  in  Murcia  ;  but 
you  alone  shall  enjoy  it.  I  will  not  give  a  marvedis 
to  your  sister  Inesilla,  who  had  scarcely  attained  her 
fourteenth  year  when  she  eloped  with  a  young  officer 
in  the  Guards,  to  Catalonia,  and  has  not  since  been 
heard  of;  but  I  have  no  doubt  she  is  living,  to  the 
shame  of  herself  and  the  dishonour  of  her  family,  in 
a  state  of  concubinage.  She  is  so  far  from  being 
entitled  to  share  any  part  of  my  fortune,  that  she 
does  not  even  deserve  to  be  remembered." 

Thus  spoke  her  good  uncle  ;  and  I  confess  that, 
like  a  good  brother,  I  was  so  far  from  attempting  to 
defend  mv  sister's  character,  that  I  affected  oreat 
indignation  at  her  base  and  unworthy  conduct ;  and 
the  old  gentleman  a  (e\v  days  afterwards  sealed, 
signed,  and  delivered  his  last  will  ;  in  which  no 
mention  whatever  was  made  even  of  the  name  of  this 
unfortunate  girl :  I  was  appointed  his  whole  and  sole 
legatee. 

The  only  favour  which  my  kind  uncle  could  now 
add  to  his  bounty  was  to  die;  and  he  soon  afterwards 
conferred  this  last  kindness  on  me,  and  thereby 
enabled  me,  while  he  was  passing  into  the  other 
world,  to  take  possession  of  his  effects  in  this.  The 
property,  which  amounted  to  nearly  twenty  thousand 
ducats,  had  been  fairly  and  legally  acquired  by  gril- 
ling p°ople  out  of  their  complaints;  for  the  reader 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  223 

will  scarcely  forget  the  mode  which  this  able  operator 
followed,  and  the  anodyne  manner  by  which  he  cured 
the  megraine  and  dropsy. 

Perceiving  myself  so  well  provided  for,  I  experi- 
enced the  ordinary  effect  of  riches.  I  became  as 
proud  as  a  priest,  and,  like  the  Gripus  of  Plautus, 
when  he  found  a  treasure,  renounced  philosophy,  and 
thought  only  of  the  means  of  pleasure.  "  Vanillo," 
said  I  to  myself,  "  you  are  now  in  opulence,  and  what 
the  world  calls  a  happy  man.  You  may  now  assume 
the  deportment  of  a  gentleman.  Thrice  happy  are 
young  men  of  your  disposition,  whose  fathers  or 
uncles  draw  blood  or  drink  water  all  their  lives  to 
leave  them  wherewith  to  enjoy  themselves.  Let  me 
honour  such  parents  and  relations,  rather  than  those 
who  devour  their  fortune,  to  the)  disappointment  of 
their  heirs.  Since  you  possess  wealth,  it  will  be  no 
longer  necessary  to  have  masters.  Throw  off  the 
yoke  of  servitude,  and  make  a  brilliant  figure  in  the 
world." 

It  v.  ill  be  unnecessary,  I  conjecture,  to  tell  my 
friendly  readers  that  I  resolved  so  to  do  ;  and  having 
disposed  of  my  real  estates,  and  converted  my  dirty 
acres  into  shining  pistoles  and  brilliant  doubloons,  I 
quitted  Murcia,  attended  by  my  suite ;  which  con- 
sisted of  a  valet,  mounted  like  myself  on  a  handsome 
mule,  and  a  mule  driver,  who  had  the  care  of  a  third 
mule,  loaded  with  a  large  mail,  in  which  my  riches 
were  enclosed. 

The  city  of  Madrid  appearing  to  me  better  suited 
than  any  other  to  an  heir  of  my  disposition,  that  is,  to 
a  young  man  who  was  inclined  to  ruin  himself  as  fast 
as  possible,  I  directed  my  course  with  great  expedi- 
tion towards  that  great  and  splendid  metropolis. 


224  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

THE    ARRIVAL    OF    VANILLO    AT    MADRID  —  WHAT  PERSON 

HE  MET  AT  THE  HOTEL  IN  WHICH  HE  RESIDED THE 

CONVERSATION  THEY  HAD  WITH  EACH  OTHER. 

On  my  arrival  at  the  metropolis  of  the  Spanish 
monarchy,  I  fixed  my  residence  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Sun-gate,  at  a  hotel,  in  which  the  first  person  I  saw 
was  Don  Ramirez  de  Prado.  We  repeatedly  saluted 
each  other  with  transport,  and  exhibited  on  both 
sides  a  higher  degree  of  joy  at  our  meeting  than 
either  of  us  really  felt.  "  What  brings  you  to 
Madrid?"  said  Don  Ramirez.  "Do  you  intend  to 
make  it  your  constant  residence?" 

"  I  intend  so  to  do,"  replied  I  ;  "  all  other  cities  in 
the  world,  not  even  excepting  the  several  capitals  of 
Europe,  appear  to  me  petty  villages  when  compared 
with  Madrid,  which  is  the  only  place  where  men  of 
spirit  ought  to  live  and  die." 

Prado  smiled  at  my  observation.  "You  must  be 
a  sincere  admirer  of  the  metropolis,"  said  he,  "to 
speak  of  it  in  these  terms.  I  acknowledge  it  is  a 
delightful  city  ;  but  I  am  forced  at  the  same  time 
to  confess,  that  in  order  to  enjoy  its  delights  it  is 
necessary  to  be  rich  ;  for  pleasure  is  certainly  more 
expensive  here  than  in  any  other  place  :  are  you 
in  a  condition  to  purchase  them  at  a  high  price  ?  " 

°  In  truth  I  am  not,"  said  I. 

"Nor  I  either,"  replied  Prado,  "although  it  is  not 
long  since  I  was  at  Salamanca  to  receive  my  patri- 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  225 

mony,  which  was  sufficiently  large  to  have  enabled 
me  to  live  at  Madrid  in  the  style  of  a  gentleman  ; 
but,  to  tell  you  the  truth,  I  have  already  disposed 
of  the  greater  part  of  it,  and  was  in  an  excellent  train 
to  eet  rid  of  the  remainder,  when,  by  the  most 
extraordinary  event  imaginable,  I  suddenly  became 
prudent  and  discreet." 

I  could  not  avoid  laughing  in  my  turn  at  these 
words.  I  requested  Don  Ramirez  to  inform  me 
by  what  possibility  a  young  libertine  could  be  so 
immedately  reclaimed,  when  old  ones  generally 
continue  the  character  during  their  lives. 

"If,"  said  he,  "you  are  really  desirous  to  be 
informed  of  the  means  by  which  that  reformation 
was  effected,  do  me  the  favour  to  accompany  me 
to  my  apartments,  for  I  lodge  in  this  hotel,  and  I 
will  recount  to  you  the  history  of  my  conversion. 

Curiosity  induced  me  to  follow  Don  Ramirez  to 
his  chamber,  where,  having  entered  and  taken  our 
seats,  he  began  as  follows  : — 

The  Htstory  of  Don  Ramirez  de  Prado. 

The  ardent  inclination  for  the  fair  sex  which 
Nature  has  implanted  in  my  bosom  seduced  me, 
even  while  I  was  a  pensionary  student  with  Dr. 
Canizares.  Signora  Dalfa,  who  was  at  that  time 
distinguished  by  the  appellation  of  the  Charming 
Widow,  was  the  first  object  that  attracted  my  atten- 
tion;  not  so  much  indeed  by  her  beauty,  as  by  a 
certain  talent  which  she  possesses  in  an  eminent  and 
peculiar  degree,  of  seducing  the  affections  of  young 
men,  and  which,  it  is  said,  she  very  frequently  exercised 
even  during  the  life  of  her  husband  ;  but  while  she  in- 
spired me  with  love,  I  think,  coquette  as  she  was,  she 


226  THE  HISTORY  OF  » 

felt,  if  I  may  say  bO  without  being  thought  vain,  some 
little  affection  for  me.  Her  house  was  open  to  me 
whenever  I  pleased,  and  she  always  received  me 
with  much  seeming  cordiality.  It  is  true  I  enjoyed 
this  pleasure  in  common  with  several  other  students  ; 
for  access  to  her  house  was  not,  like  that  to  the 
Temple  of  Ceres,  forbidden  to  man.  Her  company, 
however,  was  selected  with  great  judgment;  for  all 
her  visitors,  except  myself,  had  purses  lined  with 
gold,  and  were,  in  general,  the  sons  of  opulent 
parents,  whose  coffers  they  constantly  drained  to 
enable  themselves  to  give  handsome  entertainments 
to  this  charming  widow  and  her  niece  Bernardina, 
whose  budding  beauties  were  just  besdnnino-  to 
render  her  an  object  of  attention. 

It  was  not  long  before  this  lovely  female  enjoyed 
the  triumph  of  her  charms.  The  fame  of  her  ex- 
traordinary beauty  soon  reached  the  ears  of  those 
young  men  who  are  ever  vigilant  to  discover  this 
inferior  class  of  fashionable  characters ;  many  of 
whom  tempted  her  virtue,  and  the  eloquence  of  the 
most  generous  was  of  course  the  best  received. 
But  I,  though  almost  moneyless,  was  never  re  used 
admittance  to  the  house.  To  recompense  this  want 
of  cash,  however,  I  frequently  introduced  older 
students,  who  were  able  to  pay  the  reckoning,  and 
taught  these  apprentices  of  love  how  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  instruction. 

"  I  am  not  ignorant  of  this  part  of  your  history," 
interrupted  I  with  a  smile  ;  "  you  contrived  to  em- 
ploy my  doubloons  in  the  service  of  these  nymphs. 
Allow  me,  however,  to  say.  that  it  is  acting  a  part 
r.ot  quite  suitable  to  the  character  of  a  gentleman." 

"  I  acknowledge  it,"  replied  Prado  ;  "  but  you  must 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  227 

excuse  such  conduct  in  a  young  student,  whose 
passion  overwhelmed  every  other  consideration. 
Besides,  Vanillo,  between  ourselves,  where  is  there 
a  man  who  can  recall  all  the  actions  of  his  past 
life  without  feeling  a  secret  shame  at  having  done 
something  his  mind  disapproves?  'There  is  no 
man,'  says  a  Spanish  author,  'who,  if  he  examines 
his  past  conduct  with  scrupulous  attention,  but  must 
confess  that  he  has  committed  more  than  one 
shameful  and  unworthy  action.' " 

The  blush  of  conscious  guilt  glowed  on  my  cheeks 
while  Don  Ramirez  uttered  this  quotation.  The 
observation  is  true.  What  mortal  has  been  integer 
vitce  scelerisque  purus  ?  Is  it  you,  Vanillo  ?  If  you 
think  so,  you  must  have  forgot  the  way  in  which 
you  discharged  the  pious  commission  of  the  Licentiate 
Salablanca,  and  the  dropsical  patient  in  the  Hospital 
of  Murcia.  You  best  know  the  manner  in  which 
vou  obtained  from  them  those  seducing  pistoles  which 
Don  Ramirez  induced  you  to  expend.  Truly  you  im- 
pute dishonourable  actions  to  him  with  a  good  grace. 
Are  you  not  a  thousand  times  more  guilty  than  he  ? 

These  reflections  were  silently  made  without  inter- 
rupting Prado,  who  continued  his  history  in  this 
manner: 

Dr.  Canizares,  perceiving  that  I  totally  ne- 
glected my  studies,  and  not  being  ignorant  of  the 
cause  of  it,  privately  exhorted  me,  in  a  friendly 
though  philosophic  manner,  to  discontinue  my  visits 
to  Signora  Dalfa  and  her  niece  ;  but  the  only  effect 
of  his  remonstrance  was  a  restraint  of  three  days  ; 
for  on  the  fourth  I  renewed  my  acquaintance  with 
her  as  usual,  in  despite  of  his  admonitions;  and  the 
Doctor,  piqued  at  the   ill   success  of  his  eloquence, 


228  THE  HISTORY  OF 

not  only  threatened  to  inform  my  father  of  my  mis- 
conduct, but  he  extended  his  care  of  me  so  far  as 
to  put  his  threats  in  execution ;  in  consequence  of 
which  I  shortly  after  received  a  letter  from  my  father 
Don  Balthazar  de  Prado,  in  which,  without  any  ex- 
pression of  discontent,  he  commanded  me  to  return  to 
Corita  immediately.  I  obeyed  the  injunction  without 
hesitation ;  and  soon  after  my  arrival,  he  addressed 
me,  with  great  complacency,  in  the  following  manner: 

"  My  dear  son,  your  neglect  of  the  admonitions  of 
your  tutor  was  not  the  reason  of  my  recalling  you  so 
suddenly  from  the  University ;  but,  as  you  have  now 
attained  a  proper  age,  and  acquired  a  sufficient  stock 
of  learning  to  answer  all  the  purposes  I  have  in 
view,  it  is  time  to  think  of  establishing  you  in  life. 
Don  Roderigo  de  Calderona,  the  Duke  of  Lerma's 
secretary,  or  I  might  rather  say  colleague,  is  my 
particular  friend,  and  I  trust  he  will  procure  you 
some  office  under  government.  I  have  already  in- 
formed him  of  my  intention  to  send  you,  under 
his  auspices,  to  Madrid.  He  will,  I  am  assured, 
receive  and  treat  you  as  the  son  of  his  dearest 
friend.  I  do  not,  however,  mean  to  confine  you  to 
the  drudgery  of  the  civil  departments  of  office  ;  and, 
therefore,  if  you  prefer  a  situation  in  the  army,  he 
will,  from  his  interest  as  commander  of  the  German 
Guards,  procure  you  a  commission  in  one  of  the 
regiments  ;  but  let  me  advise  you  to  reflect  seriously 
before  you  adopt  your  line  in  life." 

On  my  arrival  at  Madrid,  about  two  months  after 
this  exhortation,  I  immediately  waited  on  Don 
Roderigo,  who  no  sooner  read  the  letter  of  intro- 
duction which  my  father  had  written  to  him,  than 
he  received  me,  notwithstanding  the  natural  phlegm 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  229 

and  haughtiness  of  his  temper,  with  every  demon- 
stration of  civility  and  friendship.  He  asked  me 
what  profession  I  intended  to  pursue,  and  the  kind 
of  appointment  I  wished  to  procure.  On  my  telling 
him  that  I  had  not  yet  determined  upon  the  subject, 
he  requested  me,  whenever  I  should  be  enabled  to 
make  up  my  mind,  to  come  to  him,  and  added,  that 
he  would  exert  his  best  endeavours  to  assist  me ; 
requesting  me,  at  the  same  time,  to  assure  his  good 
old  friend,  my  father,  that  no  consideration  should 
induce  him  to  neglect  the  interests  of  his  son. 

Delighted  at  being  thus  favourably  received  by  a 
man  whose  power  was  capable  of  achieving  whatever 
he  pleased,  I  seized  on  every  opportunity  to  inspect 
into  the  nature  of  the  civil  and  military  employments, 
in  order  to  find  out  which  of  them  was  most  likely 
to  suit  my  inclination.  The  behaviour  and  manner 
of  living  of  both  these  orders  were  equally  flattering 
to  youthful  vanity.  When  I  observed  the  lowest 
clerks  in  their  respective  offices  acting  the  parts  of 
petty  ministers  of  state,  I  determine^  to  choose  the 
civil  department ;  but  when  I  saw  subalterns  assum- 
ing the  air  and  authority  of  commanders-in-chief, 
I  declared  for  the  army.  I  wavered  a  long  time, 
undetermined  which  line  to  choose  ;  but  at  length 
I  preferred  the  sword  to  the  pen  ;  and  on  informing 
Don  Roderigo  of  the  choice  I  had  made,  he  not  only 
promised  me  an  ensigncy,  but,  in  about  two  months 
afterwards,  presented  me  with  the  colours.  For- 
getting from  that  moment  that  I  was  merely  a 
schoolboy,  without  either  wisdom  or  experience,  I 
pressed  myself  into  the  company  of  my  brother 
officers,  who,  I  must  confess,  generally  encouraged 
the  advances  I  made  to  keep  them  company.     Among 


23o  THE  HISTORY  OF 

other  military  acquaintances  which  I  formed,  was 
one  with  a  lieutenant,  of  the  name  of  Steinboc;  and 
the  natural  conformity  of  our  dispositions  soon 
united  us  so  closely,  that  we  were  almost  inseparable. 
This  officer  was  about  eight-and-twenty  years  of  age, 
extremely  elegant  in  his  person,  and  affable  in  his 
manners,  of  high  spirit,  extraordinary  understanding, 
and  incorruptible  integrity. 

Such  a  friend  might  have  proved  a  second  Mentor 
to  a  wild  and  giddy  youth,  who  had  not  yet  attained 
the  twentieth  year  of  his  age ;  but  unfortunately 
he  stood  in  great  need  of  a  preceptor  himself ;  for 
his  passions,  like  mine,  were  strong  and  irregular, 
and,  if  he  had  undertaken  to  guide  my  conduct,  we 
should  certainly  have  resembled  the  Wind  leading 
the  blind.  Pleasure,  it  will  easily  be  conceived,  was 
the  great  delight  of  two  such  companions,  and  our 
parents  kindly  furnished  us  with  the  means  of  pur- 
suing it.  Steinboc,  in  particular,  frequently  received 
such  large  remittances  from  Germany,  which  was 
his  native  country,  as  placed  him  in  a  condition  to 
treat  our  female  acquaintances,  not  only  frequently, 
but  with  magnificence. 

One  day  this  favourite  associate  addressed  him- 
self to  m-  in  high  spirits :  "  Don  Ramirez,"  said  he, 
"  I  have  a  valuable  discovery  to  communicate  to  you. 
I  can  introduce  you  to  a  house  where  you  will  see 
two  young  and  beautiful  Genoese  :  they  are  sisters, 
and  live  under  the  protection  of  an  aunt,  who  has 
lately  come  to  reside  with  them  at  Madrid." 

Steinboc  had  scarcely  pronounced  these  words, 
when  I  pressed  him  so  anxiously  to  conduct  me 
immediately  to  the  house  of  these  lovely  foreigners^ 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  231 

that,  while  he  acceded  to  my  request,  he  could  not 
help  smiling  at  my  impatience. 

The  moment  I  fixed  my  eyes  upon  the  aunt,  I 
thought  I  beheld  Signora  Dalfa,  so  much  did  she 
resemble  that  lady  ;  but  while  I  was  gazing  upon 
her  amiable  person  with  exquisite  pleasure,  her  two 
nieces  appeared  in  all  their  charms,  and,  unfortunately 
for  their  aunt,  justly  diverted  my  admiration.  My 
eyes  could  behold  no  other  objects  than  these  youth- 
ful beauties,  whose  brilliances  dazzled  my  sight,  and 
made  the  deepest  impression  on  my  heart.  Donna 
Theodora,  the  eldest  sister,  delighted  me  by  her 
sensible  aspect  and  modest  mien;  but  the  life  and 
vivacity  of  the  younger  wa    quite  enchanting. 

Having  enjoyed  the  felicity  of  a  long  conversation, 
we  quitted  the  house,  and,  as  we  walked  along  the 
street,  "  To  which  of  the  sisters,"  said  Steinboc,  "'  do 
you  give  the  preference  ?  " 

"  You  ask  me,  my  friend,"  replied  I,  "  a  very  embar- 
rassing question  ;  both  of  them  seem  to  me  so  amiable 
that  I  really  am  at  a  loss  to  decide  how  to  give  a 
preference;  but  if  I  were  absolutely  obliged  to  choose 
I  think  I  should  give  my  hand  to  Theodora." 

"  And  I,"  cried  Steinboc,  "  should  throw  myself  at 
the  feet  of  Donna  Innes  ;  not  that  she  is  in  my  opinion 
more  lovely  than  her  sister,  but  that  a  certain  je  ne 
seal  qnoi  inclines  me  to  her.  A  whimsical  idea  has  just 
occurred  to  me,"  continued  he,  laughing;  "suppose, 
for  the  sak'j  of  diversion,  we  were  to  make  love  to 
them  :  do  you  address  Theodora,  and  I  will  attach 
myself  to  Donna  Innes.  Let  us  devote  our  time  to 
the  service  of  the  charming  Genoese,  make  warm  and 
passionate  love  to  them,  and  spare  no  pains  to  induce 
them  to  listen  favourably  to  our  vows;  they  well  de- 


232  THE  HISTORY  OF 

serve  to  be  ranked  among  the  number  of  our  con- 
quests." 

Acquiescing,  with  heedless  temerity,  in  this  roman- 
tic proposal,  we  resolved  to  commence  our  operations 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  ensuing  day.  After  paying  our 
respects  in  flattering  expressions  to  the  aunt,  and  seat- 
ing ourselves  by  the  side  of  these  lovely  charmers, 
we  opened,  with  insidious  gallantry,  the  soft  siege  of 
love,  in  which,  as  Steinboc  was  in  the  habit  of  asso- 
ciating with  the  actresses  of  the  theatre,  and  I  had 
recently  left  the  school  of  S'gnora  Dalfa,  we  respec- 
tively acquitted  ourselves  with  admirable  dexterity. 
To  the  usual  entertainments  we  contrived  to  add  a 
collation  of  fruits  and  other  refreshments,  of  which, 
after  great  ceremony,  they  agreed  at  last  to  partake ; 
and,  having  passed  a  very  agreeable  evening,  we  bade 
them  adieu. 

While  we  were  walking  home,  we  respectively  asked 
each  other  what  impressions  we  had  been  capable  ot 
making  on  the  hearts  of  our  mistresses.  "  As  for  my- 
self," said  Steinboc,  "  I  perceive  that  Donna  Innes  is 
a  lively,  laughing  girl,  who  turns  everything  I  say  into 
ridicule.  I  could  not  persuade  the  giddy  girl  to  listen 
to  me  seriously." 

"  And  as  to  myself,"  said  I,  "  I  find  that,  with  all 
my  rhetoric,  I  am  no  farther  advanced  than  you  are. 
Theodora,  during  our  conversation,  preserved  a  cold 
silence,  and  scarcely  seemed  to  listen  to  my  dis- 
course :  this  may,  perhaps,  be  a  feint,  but  it  looks 
inauspicious  ;  and,  if  you  will  take  my  advice,  wc 
shall  rest  upon  our  arms;  the  siege  we  have  under- 
taken will  be  of  too  long  duration." 

"You  must  not  be  so  soon  discouraged,"  replied 
the  German;  "it  is  the  common  subtlety  of  the  sex 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  233 

to  appear  insensible  to  the  first  addresses  of  those 
lovers  whose  hearts  they  wish  to  inflame.  Let  us 
continue  our  addresses,  and  rely  upon  my  prediction 
that  we  shall  soon  see  these  provoking  Genoese  change 
their  behaviour." 

This  prediction  proved  true.  They  became,  day 
after  day,  more  tractable.  Donna  Innes  began  by 
degrees  to  turn  an  attentive  ear  to  the  blandishments 
of  Steinboc,  and  the  cold  bosom  of  Theodora  appeared 
sensible  to  mine.  This  change  of  sentiment,  although 
it  might  fairly  be  attributed  to  the  moneys  we  began 
to  expend  on  them,  and  to  the  rich  presents  we  sent 
them,  we  ascribed,  in  the  vanity  of  youth,  to  the  influ- 
ence of  personal  merit.  But  our  success  was  attended 
with  very  serious  and  unexpected  consequences ;  for, 
while  we  were  thus  endeavouring  to  inspire  the  bosoms 
of  these  beautiful  Genoese  with  love,  the  subtle  passion 
stole  imperceptibly  into  our  own.  Donna  Innes  gained 
by  degrees  such  an  empire  over  the  heart  of  Steinboc 
that  he  could  not  refrain  from  making  her  serious 
promises  of  marriage;  and  although  I  resisted,  for 
some  time,  the  persuasions  of  Donna  Theodora,  who 
anxiously  exerted  herself  to  involve  me  in  a  similar 
folly,  I  was  at  length  vanquished  by  the  tears  which 
mv  resistance  caused  her  to  shed,  and  I  made  her  the 
same  promise  which  my  friend  had  made  to  her  sister. 

Having  gained  these  points,  we  were  considered  as 
husbands  elect,  and  permitted  to  act  like  masters  of 
the  house.  We  accordingly  requested  that  the  aunt 
would  no  longer  suffcr  the  visits  of  two  gentlemen 
whose  manners  had  for  some  time  excited  our  jealousy ; 
for,  as  the  family  were  now  entirely  supported  at  our 
expense,  we  thought  it  not  unreasonable  that  vre 
should  superintend  and  direct  its  pleasures. 


234  THE  HISTORY  OF 

One  of  these  objectionable  visitors  was  an  alcade, 
and  the  other  an  old  governor,  who,  while  they  pre- 
tended to  admire  the  aunt,  were  secretly  directing 
their  attention  towards  her  nieces.  Their  personal 
figures,  it  is  true,  did  not  render  them  very  formidable 
rivals,  but  we  had  been  informed  that  they  were  re- 
puted to  be  immensely  rich,  and  extremely  lavish  of 
money  in  the  indulgence  of  their  desires. 

The  affectionate  aunt,,  who  knew  well  what  she  was 
about,  immediately  made  this  sacrifice  to  our  fears, 
for  which  we  thought  ourselves  under  great  obliga- 
tion  ;  but  the  sequel  will  discover  the  extent  of  her 
claim  upon  our  gratitude  for  this  seeming  conde- 
scension. 

Receiving  soon  afterwards  a  letter  from  Corita,  in- 
forming me  that  my  father  was  so  dangerously  ill 
that  the  physician  despaired  of  saving  his  life,  I 
showed  it  to  Don  Roderigo  de  Calderona,  who  seemed 
to  be  greatly  affected  by  the  danger  of  his  friend  ; 
and,  after  telling  me  that,  by  the  strict  rules  of  the 
service,  I  was  not  permitted  on  any  account  to  quit 
my  station,  but  that,  under  these  circumstances,  I 
must  visit  my  father,  and  that  he  would  take  all  the 
consequences  of  my  absence  upon  himself,  he  desired 
me  to  set  off  immediately  :  "  and  may  the  joy,"  con- 
tinued he,  "  which  Don  Balthazar  will  feel  on  seeing 
you,  contribute  to  preserve  his  life." 

I  could  not,  however,  leave  Madrid  without  bid- 
ding adieu  to  my  charming  Theodora,  who,  when  I 
announced  the  occasion  of  it,  was  so  affected  with 
affliction  at  my  departure,  that  she  fainted  into  my 
arms,  and  it  was  with  great  difficulty  that  her  aunt, 
her  sister,  Steinboc,  and  myself,  brought  her  to  her 
senses.     She  uttered,  indeed,  such  distressful  cries, 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  235 

and  shed  such  torrents  of  tears  upon  the  occasion, 
that  I  might  have  suspected  they  did  not  proceed 
from  the  natural  feelings  of  the  heart.  These  testi- 
monies of  attachment,  whether  real  or  affected,  made 
great  impression  upon  my  mind.  I  was  forced  to  tear 
myself  from  her  arms.  The  moment  I  was  free  I 
mounted  my  horse  and  travelled  with  all  possible  dili- 
gence to  Corita,  where  I  found  Don  Balthazar  dying, 
or,  to  speak  with  more  propriety,  nearly  dead.  Un- 
able to  speak,  and  totally  deprived  of  his  faculties,  his 
departing  spirit  seemed  only  to  wait  for  my  arrival ; 
for  he  expired,  almost  instantly,  in  my  arms.  Unna- 
tural, indeed,  must  my  feelings  have  been,  if  the  death 
of  a  parent  so  deserving  of  regret  had  not  deeply 
wounded  my  heart;  and,  shedding  a  torrent  of  tears, 
I  followed  his  remains  to  the  grave  with  unfeigned 
affliction.  His  estate,  which  was  clear  and  enencum- 
bered,  and  of  which  I  took  immediate  possession, 
made  me  unexpectedly  master  of  a  fortune  to  the 
amount  of  fifty  thousand  crowns.  I  let  part  of  the 
landed  property  for  a  thousand  crowns  a  year,  and 
turned  the  remainder  into  money  as  soon  as  possible, 
with  a  view  to  return  to  Theodora,  whose  absence  I 
began  to  feel  it  irksome  to  sustain.  My  impatience, 
indeed,,  to  see  her  again  was  so  great,  continued  Ra- 
mirez, that  I  remember  I  quitted  Salamanca  without 
performing  fche  promise  I  made  to  call  upon  you,  but 
the  distraction  of  my  mind  will,  I  trust,  form  my  excuse. 
On  my  arrival  at  Madrid  I  immediately  visited  my  friend 
Steinboc,  to  inquire  how  Donna  Theodora  had  con- 
ducted herself  during  my  ajasence.  "With  great  pru- 
dence," said  he  ;  "  I  have  not  seen  any  visitor  enter  the 
house ;  and,  what  ought  to  afford  you  still  greater  satis- 
faction, she  has  not  enjoyed  one  moment  of  tranquillity 


236  THE  HISTORY  OF 

since  you  left  her.  At  least,  I  can  assure  you,  that 
when  I  have  seen  her  she  has  appeared  to  be  oppressed 
by  the  deepest  melancholy.  Justice  obliges  me  to 
render  to  you  this  testimony  of  her  fidelity." 

"You  give  me  new  raptures,"  exclaimed  I,  "in 
affording  me  this  agreeable  information.  How  sweet 
it  is  to  the  mind  of  a  lover,  who  feels  a  strong  attach- 
ment to  his  mistress,  to  be  convinced  that  she  is 
worthy  of  his  affection  !  " 

"  Since  you  are  so  satisfied  with  the  conduct  of 
Theodora,"  replied  my  friend,  "you  will  now,  of  course, 
make  her  your  wife." 

"Yes,"  replied  I,  "immediately;  but  have  you,  my 
friend,  relinquished  your  resolution  to  espouse  Donna 
Innes  ? " 

"  No  :  on  the  contrary,"  said  he,  "  I  intend  inviol- 
ably to  preserve  the  faith  I  have  sworn  to  her  ;  it  is 
the  warmest  wish  of  my  heart." 

The  charming  Genoese,  so  far  from  contradictincr 
the  report  of  Steinboc,  exhibited,  on  seeing  me, 
a  thousand  demonstrations  of  tenderness.  In  pro- 
portion to  the  depth  of  her  affliction  on  my  de- 
parture, was  the  extravagance  of  her  joy  on  my 
return. 

To  prove  the  satisfaction  I  felt  on  finding  myself 
so  sincerely  beloved,  I  freely  disbursed  my  money  in 
making  presents,  not  only  to  Theodora  and  her  sister, 
but  even  to  her  aunt ;  and  by  liberalities,  thus  judici- 
ously bestowed,  as  well  as  by  balls,  feasts,  concerts, 
little  collations,  and  a  thousand  other  idle  expenses,  I 
dissipated,  by  regular  degrees,  more  than  a  moiety  of 
my  patrimony.  My  prodigality,  like  my  joy,  was 
unbounded  ;  and  I  should,  without  doubt,  have  ruined 
myself  completely,  if,  by  the  interposition  of  Heaven, 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  237 

we  had  not  discovered  what  was  passing  during  our 
absence  at  the  house  of  our  Genoese. 

The  kind  aunt,  who  had  rendered  us  so  sensible  of 
the  sacrifice  she  had  made  by  dismissing  the  alcade 
and  the  governor  from  her  house,  as  I  have  already 
mentioned,  had  concerted  her  measures  so  adroitly 
with  these  gentlemen,  that  they  were  introduced 
almost  every  evening  the  moment  we  went  away. 

On  receiving  this  information,  which,  on  examina- 
tion, appeared  to  be  well  founded,  we  held  a  council 
to  deliberate  on  the  species  of  vengeance  it  would  be 
proper  to  inflict  on  the  deceitful  harpies  :  to  burn 
their  house  and  put  our  rivals  to  death  were  the  first 
ideas  which  rage  presented  to  our  minds  ;  but,  as  our 
anger  subsided,  we  became  by  degrees  more  rational, 
and  judging  it  prudent  to  avoid  all  publicity  upon 
the  subject,  which  would  only  render  us  ridiculous  in 
every  company,  and  raise  a  laugh  at  our  expense, 
we  prudently  resolved  not  to  announce  our  disastrous 
adventure,  but  to  punish  the  perfidy  of  these  female 
deceivers  with  silent  contempt. 


Don  Ramirez  de  Prado  here  ended  his  narrative, 
with  an  observation,  that  the  characters  of  women  are 
not  easily  developed.  "  Who,"  said  he,  "  could  have 
imagined  these  Genoese  capable  of  playing  us  such  a 
trick?  Ah,  the  devils  !  But  I  ought  to  congratulate 
my  good  fortune  in  having  saved  my  estate  of  a  thou- 
sand crowns  a  year  ;  for,  if  their  tricks  had  not  been 
discovered  they  would  not  have  left  me  a  single  pis- 
tole. This  event"  continued  Ramirez,  "produced 
much  serious  reflection  in  my  mind,  and  made  me 
resolve  to  renounce  the  pursuits  of  gallantry  ;  and, 


238  THE  HISTORY  OF 

since  that  period,  I  have  lived  a  regular  life,  of  which 
my  purse  has  felt  the  good  effects." 

*  And  your  friend  Steinboc,"  said  I,  "  has  he  also 
been  deluded  into  wisdom?" 

"  I  do  not  know  what  has  become  of  him,"  said 
Prado;  "he  left  Madrid  about  three  weeks  ago  to  re- 
turn to  Germany,  and  I  have  not  yet  heard  from  him; 
but  he  has  sworn  to  me  a  hundred  times  that  he  will, 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life,  keep  a  watchful 
eye  upon  his  heart ;  for  Love,  he  says,  is  the  gulf  of 
misery.  If  you,  Gonzales,  are  possessed  of  wealth, 
let  me  advise  you  to  follow  our  example ;  for  wealth 
was  intended  to  adorn  the  bowers  of  happiness,  and 
not  to  be  buried  in  the  gulf  of  misery." 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  239 


CHAPTER   XXXII. 

A  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  CHARACTERS  VANILLO  SOPPED 
WITH  THE  SAME  EVENING  /  AND  THE  DEBATE  IN 
WHICH   HE   ENGAGED    WITH   ONE   OF    THE   COMPANY. 

I  SHOULD  have  prolonged  the  conversation  with 
Don  Ramirez,  if  the  host  had  not  interrupted  it  by- 
announcing  that  the  gentlemen  who  generally  supped 
at  the  hotel  were  already  seated  in  the  room,  and 
that  supper  would  be  served  up  immediately. 

Frado  inquired  whether  Don  Gaspard  de  Messagna 
was  there,  and  the  host  informed  him  that  he  would 
certainly  attend. 

"  So  much  the  better,"  replied  Prado  ;  "we  shall  see 
an  original  character  whose  conversation  will  enter- 
tain us.  Prepare,  Vanillo,  to  behold  a  nobleman  in 
full-blown  pride,  a  little  Hidalgo,  from  the  borders 
of  Alcala,  whose  whole  estate  consists  of  a  thatched 
cottage,  and  at  most  three  acres  of  land.  Proud  of 
possessing  so  fine  a  domain,  he  conceives  himself  as  rich 
as  a  grandee  ;  and  if,  in  walking  around  this  decayed 
hovel,  which  he  arrogantly  calls  his  Chateau,  he  hap- 
pens to  meet  a  sportsman,  '  I  warn  you,  sir,'  he  cries, 
'  from  trespassing  upon  my  estate.'  This  coxcomb," 
continued  Prado,  "  can  only  talk  of  his  nobility  ;  he 
pretends  a  descent  from  the  royal  line  of  Pelagus  ; 
and  boasts  of  being  related,  either  by  consanguinity 
or  alliance,  to  the  noblest  families  of  the  monarchy." 

Desivous  of  observing  the  manners  of  so  singular  a 
character,  I  accompanied  my  friend  Prado  into  the 
eating-room,  where  ten  or  twelve  gentlemen,  to  whom 


240  THE  HISTORY  OF 

we  paid  the  usual  salutation,  were  already  assembled  ; 
and,  as  soon  as  the  supper  was  served  up,  placed  our- 
selves next  to  each  other  at  the  table.     Considering 

o 

the  place  we  were  in,  I  was  not  surprised,  on  examin- 
ing the  company,  to  find  it  a  very  motley  group.  A 
diminutive  figure,  of  rather  an  unconciliating  counte- 
nance, and  whose  person  was  extremely  ridiculous 
and  grotesque,  first  attracted  my  attention,  and  I  im- 
mediately concluded  that  this  must  be  Don  Gaspard 
de  Messagna  ;  but  the  moment  he  opened  his  mouth 
to  speak,  all  doubt  was  immediately  converted  into 
absolute  certainty. 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  he,  interrupting  the  subject  of 
conversation,  "  I  fancy  you  will  not  be  sorry  to  know 
what  I  heard  this  morning1  at  the  King's  levee.  A 
nobleman  of  the  first  distinction,  and  a  near  relation 
of  mine,  and  my  very  intimate  friend,  addressed  me 
with  an  air  of  secrecy,  saying,  '  Cousin,  I  am  happy 
to  meet  you  here,  as  it  affords  me  opportunity  to  in- 
form you  of  some  news  which  is  not  yet  made  public:' 
and  drawing  me  aside,  whispered  in  my  ear,  '  Ossuna 
is  recalled  from  the  government  of  Naples ;  he  has 
received  orders  to  repair  instantly  to  Madrid,  to 
answer  certain  high  misdemeanours  which  are  im- 
puted to  him  ;  he  is  accused  of  having  misapplied 
the  public  money,  and  of  having  committed  various 
other  crimes,  the  least  of  which  is  sufficient  to  disgrace 
and  ruin  him,  if  he  cannot,  which  I  very  much  doubt, 
clear  himself  with  honour.'  This  is  the  information, 
word  for  word,  which  my  noble  friend  communicated 
to  me,  and  I  confess  that  I  am  of  his  opinion.  I  ap- 
prehend the  loss  of  his  employments  will  not  be  his 
only  punishment;  for  he  has  perpetrated  crimes  which 
will  well  warrant  such  an  inquiry  here  as  may  send 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  i\\ 

him  to  his  account  hereafter.     If  he  should  be  im- 
peached, I  will  not  answer  for  his  life." 

Why  I  could  not  hear  the  Duke  of  Ossuna's  con- 
duct arraigned  in  these  terms  without  feeling  my  mind 
inflamed  with  indignation,  is  to  me  inexplicable;  for, 
considering  what  had  passed  between  us  at  Palermo, 
I  had  so  little  reason  to  love  him,  that  I  might,  per- 
haps, have  been  excused  in  feeling  a  certain  degree 
of  hatred.  But,  as  if  it  were  the  privilege  of  great 
men  to  be  always  dear  to  those  who  have  once  been 
in  their  service,  whatever  cause  of  discontent  they 
may  have  given,  I  could  not  avoid  warmly  under- 
taking his  defence. 

"  Restrain,  sir,"  said  I,  interrupting  Messagna  has- 
tily, "  these  licentious  imputations.  This  noble  lord 
is  the  greatest  character  of  the  age.  Let  those  only 
who  know  him  speak  of  his  conduct.  Ask  the  Sici- 
lians, over  whom  he  presided  before  he  went  to  Naples, 
what  opinion  they  entertain  of  him  ;  and  they  will 
unanimously  tell  you  that  they  wish  for  his  return." 

Don  Gaspard,  at  these  words,  turning  to  me  with  a 
haughty  and  contemptuous  look,  replied,  "  I  did  not 
expect  to  find  at  this  table  any  man  who  would  dare 
to  defend  the  Viceroy's  conduct.  You  are  apparently 
one  of  those  private  friends  whom  he  kept  in  pay  to 
resound  his  heroic  deeds." 

"  You,  sir,"  replied  I,  "  require  no  inducement  to 
calumniate  him." 

"  Whoever  you  are,"  replied  the  Hidalgo,  "you  are 
very  bold  in  daring  to  contradict  me." 

"  You  are  much  bolder,"  replied  I,  "  to  arraign,  in 
such  terms,  the  conduct  of  a  Viceroy,  whose  high 
station  the  poor  owner  of  a  paltry  cottage  ought  to 
respect." 

Q 


242  THE  HISTORY  OF 

"  Insolent  fellow,"  cried  Don  Gaspard  in  a  bullying 
manner,  "  if  the  respect  I  entertain  for  this  company 
did  not  restrain  me,  I  would  instantly  teach  you  the 
danger  of  trifling  with  a  man  of  my  quality." 

"  How  !  you  teach  me  ! "  exclaimed  I,  rising  in  fury 
from  my  chair,  "  I  defy  your  threats;  come  out  imme- 
diately if  you  dare." 

Messagna  disposed  himself  to  accept  my  challenge, 
and  attempted  to  leave  the  room  ;  but  the  whole  com- 
pany interested  themselves  in  the  quarrel,  and  forced 
us  to  resume  our  seats. 

The  courage  I  exhibited  at  Madrid  will,  perhaps, 
appear  astonishing,  after  what  I  have  already  con- 
fessed respecting  my  conduct  at  Florence,  in  my  ad- 
venture with  Matadori.  But,  to  tell  the  whole  truth, 
exclusive  of  having,  on  the  present  occasion,  the  sup- 
port of  an  officer  in  the  German  guard,  I  conjectured 
that  Don  Gaspard  was  not  more  brave  than  myself. 
I  had  some  knowledge  of  the  characteristics  of  cow- 
ardice, and  I  observed,  by  the  countenance  of  Don 
Gaspard,  that  he  was  afraid  of  me. 

Reseated  at  the  table,  we  affected  to  dart  looks  of 
unextinguished  rage  at  each  other,  like  two  comba- 
tants who  have  been  reluctantly  separated  and  only 
wait  for  an  opportunity  to  renew  the  fight.  When 
the  company  rose  from  their  seats  to  retire  to  repose, 
Don  Gaspard,  on  quitting  the  room,  shook  his  fist  at 
me  with  a  fierce  and  menacing  look,  which  I  returned 
in  the  same  way;  and  some  of  the  gentlemen,  con- 
ceiving from  this  circumstance  that  it  was  my  inten- 
tion to  follow  him,  thought  proper,  in  order  to  prevent 
future  danger,  to  accompany  him  home ;  while  Don 
Ramirez,  under  the  same  idea,  refused  to  quit  me 
until  I  retired  to  bed. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  243 

Fame  is  frequently  acquired  by  actions  of  an  equi- 
vocal nature,  and  Prado,  as  well  as  the  rest  of  the 
company,  conceived  from  my  conduct  in  this  affair 
the  highest  opinion  of  my  spirit  and  courage;  but  it 
is  not  extraordinary  that  they  should  be  deceived,  for 
I  began  myself  to  think  that  I  was  become  brave,  and 
did  not  detect  my  error  until,  having  been  in  bed  for 
several  hours,  I  found  that  my  agitation  deprived  me 
of  my  rest.  "  What  an  idiot  must  I  be,"  said  I,  "  so 
warmly  to  espouse  the  cause  of  a  man  I  have  so  little 
reason  to  love  !  I  may  have  occasion  to  repent  of  my 
rashness.  Don  Gaspard  is,  perhaps,  not  so  tame  an 
animal  as  I  have  fancied  him.  What  certainty  have 
I  that  he  has  not,  at  this  moment,  resolved  to  send 
me  a  challenge  ?  Alas  !  if  I  knew  it  to  be  his  inten- 
tion, I  would  rise,  and,  as  I  have  not  parted  with  my 
whole  equipage,"  for  I  had  happily  a  good  mule  still 
remaining,  "  instantly  quit  Madrid." 

After  I  had  passed  a  night  of  torment  and  inquie- 
tude, my  friend  Prado,  early  in  the  morning,  entered 
my  apartment  and  dispelled  my  fears,  by  informing 
me  of  a  fact  from  which  I  derived  a  higher  degree  of 
joy  than  I  thought  it  prudent  to  reveal. 

"  Don  Gaspard,"  said  he,  "  regardless  of  all  opinion 
on  the  motive  of  his  departure,  returned  to  his  cottage 
this  morning  at  break  of  day.  You  must  confess  there 
aie  great  cowards  in  the  world.  Alarmed  by  the  spe- 
cimen of  spirit  you  exhibited  last  night,  he  has,  thank 
Heaven,  sneaked  suddenly  away  to  his  cottage." 

Ramirez,  as  he  uttered  these  words,  burst  into  a 
violent  fit  of  laughter,  which,  no  doubt,  would  have 
been  redoubled  3t  m$  expense,  had  he  known  that 
the  flight  of  my  ^rerny  was  the  only  measure  that 
could  have  prevented   my  own ;    a  fact  which  my 


^4  THE  HISTORY  OF 

vanity  carefully  prevented  him  from  discovering ;  on 
the  contrary,  I  affected  to  join  with  him  in  laughing 
at  my  antagonist ;  but,  to  tell  the  truth,  it  was  a  forced 
convulsion,  for  I  could  not  in  conscience  throw  the 
shaft  of  ridicule  at  Don  Gaspard  without  feeling  it 
recoil  upon  myself. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  245 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

VANILLO,  IN  GOING  TO  THE  KING'S  LEVEE,  MEETS  HIS 
FORMER  MASTER,  DON  HENRY  OF  BOLOGNA,  WHO 
TAKES  HIM  TO  HIS  HOUSE,  AND  SHOWS  HIM  A  NEW 
KtND    OF  REGISTER. 

DON  Ramirez,  being  obliged  to  mount  guard  the 
whole  morning,  left  the  hotel  to  discharge  his  duty, 
and  I  quitted  it  shortly  afterwards,  with  an  intention 
to  feast  my  eyes  with  the  pleasure  of  observing  the 
splendid  concourse  of  grandees  who  daily  attend  the 
royal  levee.  Being  neatly  dressed,  I  may  venture  to 
assert  that  I  ran  no  risk  of  those  quizzings  which,  in 
these  resorts,  awkward  and  unfashionable  figures  are 
fated  to  endure. 

Just  as  I  was  entering  the  palace,  a  gentleman  of 
whom  I  had  some  recollection  met  me ;  and,  on  fur- 
ther view,  I  recognised  Don  Henry  of  Bologna,  my 
late  master.  There  are  certain  persons  out  of  place 
who  cannot  meet  those  in  whose  service  they  were 
employed  without  shame  and  remorse;  but  I  was  so 
far  from  resembling  this  crew,  that  I  advanced  boldly 
towards  Don  Henry  and  saluted  him  with  an  easy 
but  respectful  air.  Altered  as  I  was  in  my  dress,  in 
my  manners,  and  in  my  person,  he  immediately 
recollected  me,  and  addressing  me  with  a  smile, 
"Vanillo,"  cried  he,  "how  long  have  you  been  at 
Madrid?" 

"  I  arrived  yesterday,"  said  I ;  "you  perhapsimagined 
that  I  was  still  in  the  service  of  the  Duke  of  Ossuna," 


245  THE  HISTORY  OF 

"  No,"  replied  he;  "when  you  quitted  Sicily,  my 
friend  Quivillo  wrote  me  an  account  of  the  circum- 
stances which  occasioned  your  dismission  ;  but  either 
appearances  are  very  deceitful,  or  you  are  now  in  a 
prosperous  situation." 

"  Appearances  do  not  deceive  you  at  present,"  re- 
plied I.  "  The  stream  of  my  fortunes  has  never  before 
flowed  to  so  high  a  mark  ;  thanks  to  my  late  uncle, 
the  surgeon  of  Murcia,  who, -by  his  last  will,  has  kindly 
enabled  me  to  support  the  character  of  a  master  the 
rest  of  my  days." 

The  behaviour  of  Don  Henry  immediately  changed 
on  discovering  that  I  was  a  gentleman  ;  and,  address- 
ing me  with  great  affability  and  politeness,  he  as- 
sured me  that  the  intelligence  of  my  good  fortune 
overwhelmed  him  with  joy.  "  I  sincerely  congratu- 
late you,"  said  he,  "  on  so  happy  a  change  of  circum- 
stances ;  but  what  affords  me  a  still  greater  pleasure 
than  even  your  uncle's  liberality,  i«  that  you  appear 
not  to  have  lost  that  delightful  hilarity  with  which 
nature  has  so  happily  endowed  you.  But,  my  dear 
Vanillo,"  continued  he,  in  the  most  affectionate  man- 
ner, "  this  place  is  unfavourable  to  the  gratification  I 
wish  to  indulge  in  conversing  with  you  ;  come  to  my 
house.  Will  it  be  agreeable  to  you  to  dine  with  me 
today  ?  " 

The  regard  I  felt  for  Don  Henry  rendered  me  too 
sensible  of  the  honour  he  offered  me  to  refuse  his  in- 
vitation; and  accordingly,  stepping  into  his  carriage, 
which  was  in  waiting  for  him,  we  drove  immediately 
to  his  house.  On  entering  the  room,  "  Come,  Gon- 
zales," said  he,  "let  us  banish  ceremony.  You 
are  no  longer  my  domestic,  nor  have  I  now  any 
authority  over    you.      Let  us  forget  the  past,  and 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  247 

live  in  future  upon  terms  of  friendly  familiarity  with 
each  other." 

"  Why,  sir,  forget  ? "  replied  I  ;  "  I  should  be  un- 
grateful not  to  remember  the  past,  while  you  thus 
generously  wish  it  to  be  forgotten.  My  situation, 
while  I  was  with  you,  was  extremely  happy." 

"  Was  it  possible  for  me  to  make  it  otherwise  ? "  said 
he  ;  "  you  served  me  with  fidelity  and  affection.  But 
come,  my  friend,"  continued  he,  "I  shall  no  longer 
attend  to  any  of  the  rights  of  my  past  superiority, 
except  that  I  shall  use  the  same  style  of  familiarity 
by  the  privilege  of  friendship,  as  I  formerly  did  from 
our  then  relative  situation." 

Such  was  the  kind  of  conversation  which  passed 
between  us  before  dinner  was  announced  ;  and  dur- 
ing our  repast,  Don  Henry  obliged  me,  by  a  thousand 
questions  upon  the  subject  of  my  situation  in  Sicily, 
to  give  him  a  circumstantial  detail  of  all  transactions 
during  my  residence  in  Italy;  which  I  did,  contrary 
to  my  usual  custom,  without  any  violation  of  truth. 
Speaking  of  Quivillo,  I  enlarged  upon  his  merits  with 
sentimental  eloquence.  "  I  can  never  forget,"  said  I 
with  emotion,  "  the  grief  he  felt  when  I  took  leave  of 
him.  He  was  really  afflicted  at  my  departure;  while 
the  perfidious  Thomas,  the  Viceroy's  confidential 
valet,  although  he  affected  to  overwhelm  me  with 
caresses  and  demonstrations  of  affection,  felt,  as  I 
clearly  discovered,  a  secret  joy  at  my  disgrace.  I 
can  therefore  assure  you,  that  I  have  erased  and 
blotted  this  traitor  from  my  register  of  friendship." 

At  the  word  "register,"  Don  Henry  burst  into 
laughter,  excktlming-,  "  So  then,  Vanillo,  you  have 
not,  I  perceive,  forgot  the  register." 

"  It  is  continually  recurring  to  my  mind,"  said  I, 


248  THE  HISTORY  OF 

"  and  has    frequently  prevented   me  from  becoming 
the  dupe  of  pretended  friends." 

"  With  a  view  to  the  same  effects,"  said  Don  Henry, 
"  I  have  since  then  procured  another  preservative. 
When  I  first  showed  you  my  volume,  you  advised 
me,  if  you  recollect,  to  put  the  fidelity  of  my  female 
acquaintances  to  a  similar  test,  and  I  have  followed 
your  advice." 

"  I  am  delighted,  sir,"  replied  I ;  "  this  may  be  truly 
called  writing-  for  the  public  benefit,  and  labouring 
for  the  welfare  of  society.  I  hope  you  have  no  ob- 
jection to  show  it  to  your  friends,  if  I  may  be  per- 
mitted to  rank  myself  among  the  number." 

Don  Henry  smiled  at  my  familiarity,  and  rising 
from  the  table,  conducted  me  into  his  study,  where, 
taking  down  a  volume  of  the  same  form  but  of  a  lesser 
size  than  the  former,  he  put  it  into  my  hands,  saying, 
"  There  is  a  catalogue,  from  the  first  to  the  last,  of 
those  beauties  who  have  enslaved  my  heart.  You 
will  infer  from  the  numbers  of  them  that  I  began  at 
a  very  early  period  of  life  to  devote  myself  to  the 
service  of  the  sex  ;  and  true  it  is,  that  before  I  had 
attained  the  age  of  puberty,  I  had  made  more  than 
one  sacrifice  on  the  altar  of  love." 

On  opening  the  volume,  I  perceived  the  name  of 
Donna  Clara  de  Cespedez,  written  in  large  characters 
in  the  frontispiece.  "  This  lady,  sir,"  said  I,  "appears 
to  have  been  the  first  disturber  of  your  heart." 

"  Yes,"  replied  he,  "she  was  the  object  of  my  first 
love.  Scarcely  had  I  attained  fifteen  years  of  age 
when  I  became  acquainted  with  Donna  Clara,  who 
was  nearly  of  the  same  age.  Our  parents  being 
n  n'ghbours  and  intimate  friends,  I  had  free  access 
£V:  ry  day  to  the  house,  and  we  enjoyed  each  other's 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  249 

company  without  ceremony  or  reserve.  We  were 
considered  as  children,  over  whose  actions  it  was 
not  necessary  to  watch  ;  but  our  conduct  very  soon 
began  to  require  attention.  Nature  had  already 
enabled  us  to  feel  the  pleasures  of  love,  and  love  soon 
taught  us  to  express  the  feelings  of  the  heart;  but 
scarcely  had  Donna  Clara  learned  the  language  of 
lovers  than  the  capricious  girl  employed  it  in  favour 
of  a  rival ;  a  circumstance  which  clearly  evinces  that 
there  is  a  germ  of  inconstancy  and  infidelity  im- 
planted in  female  minds,  which  sooner  or  later  sprouts 
forth." 

"  Donna  Clara,  then,"  said  I,  "  was  the  first  female 
who  deceived  you.  But  let  us  pass  to  the  next." 
I  accordingly  turned  over  the  leaf  of  this  curious 
register,  where  the  name  "  Stella,  surnamed  Boquetta," 
struck  my  eye. 

"Stella,"  said  Don  Henry,  "was  the  object  of  my 
second  attachment.  A  majestic  deportment,  a  fine 
shape,  eyes  brighter  than  the  stars,  lips  richer  and  more 
ruby  than  the  budding  rose,  from  whence  she  acquired 
the  name  Boquetta,  placed  me  among  the  number  pf 
her  admirers,  and  induced  me  to  make  a  declara- 
tion of  my  love.  I  had  not  only  the  happiness  to 
please  her,  but  to  receive  from  her  an  avowal  of  her 
approbation.  Our  hearts  seemed  to  be  riveted  to  each 
other,  and  I  made  overtures  of  marriage  to  her ;  but 
on  the  morning  of  the  day  appointed  for  our  nup- 
tials, a  rich  citizen  proposed  to  settle  his  whole 
fortune  upon  her,  and  she  immediately  accepted  his 
hand,  and  left  me  to  meditate  on  her  inconstancy. 

"Donna  Eugenia  Alvarado,  the  next  lady  with 
whom  I  fell  in  love,"  continued  Don  Henry,  "  repaid 
my  tenderness  with  equal  infidelity.     I  adored  this 


250  THE  HISTORY  OF 

divine  beauty;  her  graceful  figure  and  her  lively  wit 
enchanted  me  ;  and  as  I  was  not  in  a  situation,  either 
with  respect  to  age,  person,  or  fortune,  to  be  con- 
temned, I  had  the  pleasure  to  experience  a  favourable 
reception.  Time  Increased  our  fondness,  and  we  inter- 
changed the  most  solemn  promises  of  eternal  fidelity 
to  each  other;  but,  on  the  evening  of  the  day  which 
was  fixed  for  the  consummation  of  our  happiness, 
Eugenia  was  carried  off  by  a  young  nobleman  ;  and 
when  I  found  that,  dazzled  by  the  superior  splen- 
dour of  my  rival,  the  elopement  was  made  with 
her  own  consent,  the  news  was  like  a  thunderbolt  to 
my  mind.  Feeling  myself  thus  sacrificed  to  the 
avarice  of  Stella  and  the  ambition  of  Eugenia,  and 
sensibly  afflicted  by  a  recollection  of  the  perfidy  I 
had  before  experienced,  I  determined  to  guard  my 
heart  in  future  against  the  intrusion  of  love.  I  en- 
joyed  a  period  of  six  months,  without  feeling  even  a 
temptation  to  violate  my  vow ;  and  the  tranquillity 
which  reigned  in  my  bosom  excited  a  degree  of  self- 
applause,  or  rather  inspired  my  mind  with  an  idea 
that  the  three  successive  disappointments  I  had  expe- 
rienced had  seared  the  source  of  sensibility  in  my 
heart.  Fatal  error !  for  I  no  sooner  saw  Donna 
Helena  Pacheco,  than,  my  bosom  burned  with  fires 
more  ardent  than  those  I  had  extinguished.  In  en- 
deavouring  to  win  the  affections  of  my  lovely  Helen, 
I  disputed  the  prize  against  twenty  formidable  rivals, 
and,  sacrificing  them  all  to  me,  she  at  length  consented 
to  make  me  happy.  But  while  we  were  preparing  to 
celebrate  our  nuptials,  and  Hymen  was  lighting  his 
torch  to  lead  us  to  the  altar,  my  future  spouss  hap- 
pened one  night  to  dream  that  she  saw  me  at  the 
feet  of  a  rival  beauty;  and  the  fancy  had  fixed  itself 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  251 

so  forcibly  on  her  mind,  that  she  considered  it,  when 
she  awoke,  as  a  secret  warning  that  her  approaching 
nuptials  were  inauspicious.  You  will,  however,  without 
doubt,  expect  to  hear  that  an  objection  so  visionary- 
vanished  with  the  return  of  reason;  but,  alas!  neither 
the  advice  of  her  female  friends  nor  my  eloquence 
could  prevent  this  ridiculous  phantasy  from  interrupt- 
ing our  union." 

I  could  not  refrain  from  bursting  into  a  fit  of 
laughter  at  this  trait  of  female  superstition  ;  and  I 
have  no  doubt  but  I  should  have  been  equally  enter- 
tained by  the  variety  of  ways  in  which  the  future  mis- 
tresses of  Don  Henry  violated  their  faith;  but  at  this 
moment  two  cavaliers  of  his  acquaintance  entered 
the  room,  which  obliged  us  to  restore  this  register  of 
female  infidelity  to  its  place  ;  the  writer  of  it  not 
being,  like  some  authors,  disposed  to  publish  his  con- 
fessions to  the  world. 


252  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

THE  CHARACTERS  OF  THE  TWO  CAVALIERS,    AND  THE 
SUBJECT  OF  THEIR   VISIT  TO  DON  HENRY. 

THESE  gentlemen  were  knights  of  the  order  of  St. 
Jacques,  and  such  great  politicians,  that,  fearful  of  ex- 
pressing their  sentiments  in  the  hearing  of  a  stranger, 
they  took  Don  Henry  on  one  side  and  whispered 
something  in  his  ear. 

Imagining  from  this  circumstance  that  my  com- 
pany was  inconvenient  to  them,  I  took  my  leave  of 
my  kind  master,  who  would  not  suffer  me  to  depart 
before  I  had  promised  to  call  upon  him  again  the 
very  first  opportunity. 

As  I  walked  along  the  streets,  I  observed  people 
clustering  together  in  small  parties,  talking  to  each 
other  with  great  emotion,  in  a  low  tone  of  voice  and  in 
a  mysterious  manner;  and  conjecturing  from  this  cir- 
cumstance that  some  extraordinary  event  had  taken 
place  or  was  impending,  I  inquired  of  my  host,  on 
arriving  at  my  hotel,  if  he  could  inform  me  of  the 
cause  of  this  public  commotion. 

"  It  is  only,"  replied  he  with  great  indifference,  "  a 
rumour  throughout  the  city,  which  interests  those 
who  are  fond  of  news,  that  the  Duke  of  Lerma  has 
resigned.  Some  are  sorry  for  it,  and  others  rejoice  at 
the  event ;  as  for  myself,  I  hope  it  is  only  a  false 
report,  for  I  have  always  heard  more  good  than  bad 
of  this  minister  ;  but  when  more  bad  than  good  pre- 
vails in  the  report  of  such  a  character,  one  must  stick 
to  what  one  knows  for  fear  of  worse." 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  253 

While  the  host  was  thus  disclosing  his  sentiments, 
it  occurred  to  me  that  the  two  cavaliers  had  visited 
Don  Henry  for  the  purpose  of  communicating  to 
him  this  news,  and  of  obtaining  his  opinion  of  the 
probable  consequences  of  the  event;  and  Don 
Ramirez,  who  at  that  instant  came  in  from  the  city, 
confirmed  the  report. 

Ramirez  appeared  so  thoughtful  and  discontented, 
that  I  asked  him  what  was  the  matter;  but,  instead 
of  giving  any  answer,  he  conducted  me  to  his  apart- 
ment, and,  placing  himself  on  a  chair  by  my  side, 
uttered  a  profound  sigh.  "What  can  this  mean?" 
exclaimed  I;  "you  alarm  me.  Have  you  heard  any 
disagreeable  news  ?  " 

"Very  disagreeable  news,  indeed,"  replied  Prado ; 
"  news  which  shocks  me  extremely.  I  have  been  to 
the  house  of  Don  Roderigo  de  Calderona,  where,  ob- 
serving his  domestics  in  the  greatest  consternation,  I 
inquired  the  cause  of  it  from  an  old  valet- de-ckambre, 
who  has  long  possessed  the  confidence  of  his  master. 
"  My  friend,"  said  I,  "  permit  me  to  ask  you  the  cause 
of  that  sorrow  which  I  perceive  upon  the  countenance 
of  every  person  in  this  house  ;  you  know  the  interest 
I  take  in  everything  that  concerns  the  master  of  it." 

"  Ah,  Signor  Don  Ramirez,"  said  he,  in  a  tone 
which  sufficiently  testified  the  affliction  he  felt,  "  all 
is  lost ;  the  Duke  of  Lerma  is  no  longer  the  pilot  of 
the  state." 

"  Oh,  Heavens  i  "  exclaimed  I,  "  what  is  it  you  say ! 
Can  he  possibly  have  lost  the  favour  of  the  Prince?" 

"  It  is  but  too  true,"  replied  the  valet-de-chambre ; 
"  and  what  will  astonish  the  world  more  than  all  the 
rest  is  that  his  disgrace  has  been  effected  by  the 
machinations  of  his  own  son.     The  Duke  of  Uzeda, 


*54  THE  HISTORY  OF 

excited  by  hatred  and  envy  against  his  father,  and 
contriving  for  a  long  while  past  to  injure  him  in  the 
opinion  of  the  King,  with  whom  Uzeda  is  a  favourite, 
has  at  length  found  means  to  effect  his  purpose;  for 
the  monarch,  by  a  letter  under  his  own  hand,  has 
ordered  the  Duke  to  retire  to  such  part  of  Spain  as 
he  shall  choose,  and  enjoy  the  benefits  his  liberality 
hath  bestowed.  This  is  the  cause  of  that  consterna- 
tion which  you  have  observed,  for  you  cannot  be 
ignorant  that  the  fall  of  Don  Roderigo  de  Calderona 
must  accompany  that  of  the  Duke  of  Lerma." 

''  To  console  the  valet-de-chambre,  and  to  flatter  his 
mind  with  a  ray  of  hope,"  continued  Don  Ramirez, 
"I  said  to  him,  My  good  friend,  notwithstanding  all 
you  have  told  me,  I  still  doubt,  from  the  known 
ascendency  which  the  Duke  has  long  possessed  over 
the  mind  of  his  majesty,  this  story  of  his  disgrace. 
The  minister  is  replete  with  resources;  and  although 
the  tempest  may  for  a  time  howl  around  him,  he  will, 
I  think,  continue  tq  elude  its  rage  ;  perhaps,  even  at 
this  moment,  he  is  more  firmly  fixed  than  ever  in  the 
good  opinion  of  the  King." 

Don  Ramirez,  the  moment  he  had  done  speaking, 
sunk  into  a  state  of  gloomy  thought ;  and  it  was  not 
difficult  for  me  to  divine  the  cause  of  it.  "Your 
interests,  Don  Ramirez,"  said  I,  "are  too  dear  to  me 
to  have  listened  to  this  conversation  with  indifference ; 
but  it  does  not  appear  from  what  you  have  said  that 
the  disgrace  of  the  minister  is  yet  certain.  Wait  until 
the  report  is  confirmed  before  you  suffer  it  thus  to 
afflict  your  mind.  Perhaps,  as  you  suggested  to  the 
valet-de-chambre,  your  patron  has  already  regained  the 
good  opinion  of  your  royal  master." 

"  I  wish  most  sincerely  that  it  were  so,"  replied  the 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  255 

disconsolate  Prado  ;  "  not  so  much  from  a  fear  of  losing 
in  Calderona  a  friend  capable  of  advancing  me  to  for- 
tune, as  from  a  sense  of  gratitude  for  the  favours  he 
has  already  conferred  on  me." 

Prado,  having  made  this  observation,  changed  the 
discourse.  "  Tell  me,  Vanillo,"  said  he,  "  will  you  have 
the  kindness  to  do  me  a  favour  for  which  I  shall  be 
thankful?  Let  us  sup  together  this  evening  in  my 
apartment ;  for  I  cannot,  in  the  present  state  of  my 
mind,  receive  any  pleasure  from  public  company. 
The  Duke's  disgrace,  and  the  removal  of  his  secre- 
tary, would  probably  become  the  subject  of  conver- 
sation ;  and  I  might  be  forced  to  endure  expressions 
that  would  give  me  excessive  pain." 

"  I  commend  your  prudence,"  said  I;  "it  is  wise 
to  keep  danger  at  a  distance  ;  perhaps,"  added  I, 
with  a  smile,  "  some  new  Messagna  might  prompt 
you  to  do  more  for  Don  Roderigo  than  I  did  for  the 
Duke  of  Ossuna." 


256  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER   XXXV. 

THE  IMPORTANT  EVENT  WHICH  HAPPENED  A  SHORT  TIME 
AFTERWARDS  AT  COURT /  THE  CHANGES  WHICH  FOL- 
LOWED ;  AND  THE  SEPARATION  OF  VANTLLO  AND 
RAMIREZ. 

THE  approaching  dismission  with  which  every  person 
now  conceived  the  Duke  of  Lerma  was  threatened, 
became  for  fifteen  days  the  sole  topic  of  conversa- 
tion at  Madrid  ;  after  which  the  rumour  insensibly 
decreased;  and  as  the  minister  assisted  at  the  coun- 
cils, and  held  audiences  as  usual,  it  was  at  length 
conceived  to  be  without  foundation. 

About    two    months    afterwards,    however,    Philip 
III.,  whose  health  had  long  been  declining,  fell  sick 
and  died  ;  and  the  prince,  his  son,  on   ascending  the 
throne,  promoted  Don  Gaspard  de  Gusman,  Count  of 
Olivarez,  his  favourite,  to  the  high  station  of  prime 
minister  of  Spain.     The  people,  always  charmed  by 
novelty,  rejoiced  at  the  change,  but  it  was  an  event 
extremely  mortifying  to  the  adherents  to  the  San- 
doval party,  as  well  as  to  those  who,  like  Don  Ramirez, 
espoused  the  interests  of  Don  Roderigo  de  Calderona. 
As  for  myself,  I  beheld  these  important  revolutions 
with  perfect  indifference  ;  for  as  I  neither  gained  nor 
lost  by  the  event,  it  was  of  no  consequence  to  me 
whether  the  Duke  of  Lerma  or  the  Count  Olivarez 
governed  the  monarchy.     The  only   mortification   I 
felt  was,  that  my  friend  Prado,  being  no  longer  able 
to  rely  upon  the  power  of  Calderona  for  promotion, 
had  lost  the  best  string  to  his  bow. 


\\NILLO  GONZALES. 


257 


The  new  minister,  from  the  manner  in  which  he 
was  spoken  of,  raised  an  expectation  that  he  intended 
to  establish  his  authority  on  the  complete  ruin  of  his 
predecessor.  All  persons  who  were  in  any  degree 
obnoxious  to  him  were  displaced,  and  the  vacancies 
supplied  with'  men  avowedly  attached  to  his  interests. 
Calderona,  who  was  immediately  stripped  of  all  his 
employments  and  dismissed,  was  the  first  person  who 
felt  the  authority  of  the  new  minister.  Riches  are  the 
great  sweeteners  of  adversity,  and  Calderona  quietly 
retired  to  the  vicinity  of  Valladolid,  the  place  of  his 
nativity,  in  the  fond  expectation  that  he  would  be 
permitted  to  enjoy  the  immense  fortune  which  he 
had  acquired  by  means,  as  it  was  said,  not  very 
honourable  ;  but  he  had  scarcely  reached  his  retreat 
before  he  was  publicly  impeached  of  having  been 
guiity  of  many  high  crimes  and  misdemeanours,  and, 
after  a  long  examination,  condemned  by  the  judges, 
to  whom  the  commission  was  directed,  to  be  publicly 
beheaded. 

Olivarez,  not  contented  with  depriving  this  faithful 
friend  to  his  predecessor  of  life,  sought  out  every 
person  who  had  been  in  any  degree  connected  with 
the  party,  in  order  to  remove  them  from  their  employ- 
ments ;  and  the  research  was  made  with  such  minute- 
ness and  care,  that  even  Don  Ramirez  was  deprived 
of  his  ensicrncv,  for  no  other  reason  than  because  it 
had  been  given  to  him  by  Calderona.  Great  num- 
bers of  other  deserving  men  also  experienced  a  similar 
fate;  and  not  ore  of  the  Duke  of  Lerma's  party  was 
suffered  to  retain  his  place. 

Prado  (for  disclosure  of  it  is  a  justice  I  owe  to  the 
goodness  of  his  heart)  felt  the  ignominious  exit  of 
his  benefactor  with  excruciating  sensibility.     Had  he 

R 


258  THE  HISTORY  OF 

been  the  only  son  of  the  unfortunate  secretary,  he 
could  not  have  discovered  deeper  affliction :  his 
mind  indeed  seemed  to  be  affected  by  sentiments 
more  powerful  than  those  of  gratitude ;  for,  conceiv- 
ing- the  infamy  of  his  patron's  punishment  might 
glance  upon  himself,  he  resolved  to  bid  adieu  for 
ever  to  Madrid. 

"  My  dear  Vanillo,"  said  he  to  me  one  day,  "  we 
must  now  once  more  part.  I  have  determined  to 
return  to  Corita,  and  live  in  the  character  of  a  pri- 
vate gentleman,  upon  the  patrimonial  remains  which 
I  have,  thank  Heaven,  preserved  from  the  wreck  of 
youthful  folly." 

I  endeavoured  to  dissuade  him  from  his  design, 
but  his  resolution  was  unconquerable ;  and,  after 
embracing  each  other  with  all  the  transports  of  real 
friendship,  he  bade  me  an  eternal  farewell ! 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  259 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

THE    NEIV    ACQUAINTANCE      WHICH     VANILLO     FORMED — 
THE   HISTORY  OF  DON  MARCOS   DE   GIRAFA. 

The  departure  of  Don  Ramirez  gave  me  great 
affliction  for  five  or  six  days,  for  I  had  recorded 
his  name  in  my  register  of  friendship,  and  having 
had  no  reason  to  erase  it,  I  could  not  help  feeling 
the  loss  of  his  company  and  conversation.  But,  as 
sorrow  was  incompatible  with  my  disposition,  the 
uneasy  sensations  of  my  heart  hourly  diminished, 
and  my  mind  soon  resumed  its  natural  hilarity. 
I  must  indeed  confess  that  a  new  acquaintance, 
which  I  formed  almost  immediately  after  the  de- 
parture of  Prado,  contributed  very  soon  to  remove 
all  recollection  of  him  from  my  mind.  The  name  of 
my  new  companion  was  Don  Marcos  de  Girafa,  a 
gentleman,  as  he  styled  himself,  of  Asturia. 

The  manner  in  which  I  linked  my  heart  to  that  of 
the  Asturian's  was  as  follows : 

Not  far  from  the  royal  residence  there  was  a  coffee- 
house, much  frequented  by  the  idlers  of  the  metro- 
polis, which  I  generally  visited  every  day.  One 
morning,  while  I  was  drinking  my  chocolate,  a 
person  with  a  prepossessing  aspect  entered  the 
room,  and,  placing  himself  accidentally  near  me,  we 
entered  immediately  into  conversation.  There  was 
something  in  his  character  which  struck  me.  His 
thoughts  were  just,  his  language  correct,  his  elo- 
cution   graceful,    and    his    manners    pleasing.    He 


260  THE  HISTORY  OF 

possessed  a  vivacious  imagination,  and  was  rather 
disposed  to  raillery — a  talent  which  he  managed  so 
dexterously,  as  never  to  give  offence. 

Sympathy  of  disposition  immediately  attached  us 
to  each  other ;  and  in  a  few  days  we  were  so  closely 
united,  that  a  mutual  confidence  took  place.  I  dis- 
closed to  him  all  the  memorable  occurrences  of  my 
life;  and  he  in  return  detailed  his  history  to  me  in 
the  following  terms : 

The  History  of  Don  Marcos  de  Girafa. 

Don  Vincent  de  Girafa,  my  father,  having  loyally 
devoted  the  greater  part  of  his  life  and  fortune  to  the 
service  of  his  king,  retired  to  the  city  of  OvieJo, 
where  he  formed  a  matrimonial  union,  of  which  I  was 
the  sole  offspring.  My  parents,  although  they  were 
far  from  being  rich,  fondly  afforded  me  a  liberal 
education.  I  was  attended  by  a  variety  of  mas- 
ters ;  and,  among  others,  by  a  great  proficient  on  the 
guitar;  on  which,  as  if  they  thought  the  knowledge 
of  this  instrument  would  in  future  be  serviceable,  my 
parents  appeared  extremely  anxious  that  I  should 
excel.  I  made  considerable  progress  also  in  the  art 
of  fencing  ;  and  if  you  add  to  these  qualifications  a 
light  sprinkling  of  the  belles-lettres,  you  will  have  a 
tolerable  idea  of  the  extent  of  my  erudition. 

My  father  one  day  desired  me  to  attend  him  in 
his  study. 

"  My  dear  Marcos,"  said  he,  "  you  are  now  seven- 
teen years  of  age,  and  it  is  time  you  should  make 
choice  of  some  profession  ;  for  I  will  not  suppose 
that  you  are  inclined  to  live,  like  a  Sibarite*,  in 
indolence  and  luxury,     I  propose  to  send  you  to  seek 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  261 

your  fortune  at  Court.  You  are  not  deficient  in 
understanding,  and  possess,  with  a  graceful  person, 
the  advantage  of  being  a  gentleman.  With  these 
strings  to  your  bow,  you  cannot  easily  fail  of  success. 
Endeavour  to  obtain,  if  possible,  the  situation  of  page 
to  some  great  man  ;  you  may,  by  this  means,  make 
considerable  advances.  I  will  equip  you  properly, 
and  put  fifty  pistoles  in  your  pocket  to  enable  you 
to  wait  conveniently  for  a  favourable  opportunity  to 
procure  a  good  station.  Well,  my  boy,"  continued 
he,  "  does  this  scheme  please  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  I,  with  an  excess  of  joy,  from 
which  he  drew  the  happiest  presages,  "  I  shall  depart 
for  Madrid  whenever  you  think  it  proper  ;  and  my 
mind  predicts  that  I  shall  not  be  long  there  without 
finding  some  person  to  whom  my  services  may  be 
useful." 

This  answer  was  highly  pleasing  to  my  father, 
who  immediately  provided  for  me  a  handsome  suit 
of  clothes,  and  put  everything  which  he  judged 
necessary  for  this  expedition  into  a  state  of  pre- 
paration. When  the  day  of  departure  arrived, 
"  Marcos,"  said  he,  embracing  me  with  all  the  warmth 
of  parental  affection,  "  Marcos,  my  dear  boy,  go  !  and 
may  Heaven  not  only  conduct  you  safely  to  Madrid, 
but  aid  your  virtuous  endeavours.  Permit  me,  how- 
ever, to  recommend  to  your  serious  attention  a  piece 
of  advice  which  you  seem  to  stand  in  great  need 
oi  :  Guard,  my  dear  boy,  with  unwearied  vigilance, 
against  the  vivacity  of  your  temper.  You  are 
naturally  of  a  lively  turn,  and  must  be  conscious 
of  this  defect.  You  not  only  indulge  in  laughter 
yourself,  but  frequently  excite  it  in  others,  without 
seeming  to  recollect  that  you  are  by  birth  a  Spaniard 


262  THE  HISTORY  OF 

and  a  gentleman.  Dismiss,  therefore,  this  vicious 
habit ;  be  always  serious,  always  grave,  whatever 
pleasantries  you  may  either  hear  or  see.  Never,  in 
short,  quit  that  gravity  which  so  honourably  dis- 
tinguishes Spaniards  from  all  other  nations." 

My  father,  having  closed  this  important  lesson, 
kindly  counted  out  fifty  pistoles,  which  he  gave  to 
me  with  his  benediction.  I  departed,  with  the 
muleteers,  for  Madrid,  and  in  eight  days  arrived 
safelv  in  the  metropolis. 

I  proceeded  to  a  hotel  situated  in  the  high  street 
of  Toledo,  the  master  of  which  had  acquired  the 
nickname  of  Monillo,  or  the  Little  Monkey,  for  he 
was  scarcely  so  tall  as  Sisyphus,  the  dwarf  of  Mark 
Antonj*.  He  possessed,  however,  a  mind  so  whim- 
sical and  lively,  that  Spanish  gravity  was  in  great 
danger  of  forgetting  itself  in  his  company.  My 
solemnity  vanished  the  moment  I  beheld  him  ;  and 
when  I  heard  him  speak,  his  manner  of  expression 
was  so  humorous,  that  it  was  impossible  to  refrain 
from  laughter.  He  was,  however,  notwithstanding 
all  his  oddities,  very  capable  of  giving  seasonable 
and  serviceable  advice ;  for  having  informed  him  of 
the  object  of  my  journey,  he  drew  me  aside,  and 
addressed  me  in  the  following  manner: 

"  Young  gentleman,"  said  he,  "  as  you  have  an 
inclination  to  become  a  page,  I  can  perhaps  afford 
you  no  inconsiderable  service  by  introducing  you  to 
an  old  citizen,  who,  for  a  suitable  recompense,  makes 
it  his  business  to  recommend  domestics  to  such 
places  as  they  wish  to  attain." 

"You  will  do  me  a  great  favour,"  replied  I,  "by 
procuring  me  an  interview  with  this  agent ;  but  at 
present  I  am  not  in  a  hurry." 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  263 

"I  understand  you,"  replied  Monillo  ;  "you  intend 
first  to  see  the  world,  and  to  lighten  your  pockets  of 
a  few  pistoles  ;  but  take  good  care,  my  young  man, 
there  are  certain  hawks  in  the  city  of  Madrid,  always 
hovering,  and  ready  to  pounce  upon  a  new-flown 
pigeon."  And,  indeed,  the  very  first  time  I  walked 
on  the  Prado,  I  met  a  young  minx,  accompanied  by 
an  elderly  woman,  who  leered  at  me  with  so  inviting 
an  "eye,  that  I  could  not  refrain  from  joining  them 
company ;  and,  to  make  bad  worse,  they  cajoled 
me  so  successfully,  that  I  was  obliged,  a  few  days 
afterwards,  to  implore  Monillo  immediately  to  intro- 
duce me  to  the  old  citizen  he  had  before  mentioned 
to  me. 

We  proceeded  to  the  house  of  his  friend,  where  we 
were  obliged  to  wait  until  he  had  given  successive 
audiences  to  two  voim^  men,  with  whom  he  was 
previously  engaged.  On  their  being  dismissed,  we 
were  introduced. 

"  Signor  Cortes,  said  Monillo,  "  permit  me  to 
introduce  to  you  a  young  gentleman,  the  only  son  of 
the  most  ancient  family  of  Asturia.  The  muleteer 
who  conducted  him  from  Oviedo  to  Madrid  gave  me 
this  information,  and  this  is,  you  know,  hearing  facts 
from  the  voice  of  truth.  He  is  not  one  of  those 
miserable  youny  noblemen  who,  being  unable  to 
subsist  on  their  poor  domains,  esteem  it  a  happiness 
to  hold  a  place  in  some  family  just  risen  into  day. 
He  is  a  real  gentleman,  whose  father  has  seat  him  to 
the  Court  to  study  polite  life — to  unite  himself  to 
some  character  of  high  distinction — and  to  find  a 
patron  whose  interests  may  advance  him  in  the 
world." 

"Signor   Monillo,"  replied   the  old  citizen,   "it  is 


264  THE  HISTORY  OF 

a  sufficient  recommendation  of  this  younc  o-entleman 
that  you  interest  yourself  in  his  behalf.  I  will  render 
him  every  service  in  my  power.  I  know  what  will 
suit  him,  and  am  at  this  moment  enabled  to  place 
him  in  the  situation  he  wishes  to  obtain.  The 
Marquis  of  Astorga,  who  is  without  doubt  a  man 
of  the  highest  quality,  is  now  in  want  of  a  page. 
Should  you  like  this  place?"  continued  he,  addressing 
himself  to  me. 

"  Extremely  well,"  replied  I.  "  You  have  only  to 
say  in  how  much  I  am  indebted  to  you  for  this 
favour." 

"  Oh  !  only  a  trifle,"  replied  Cortes.  "  The  situation 
of  a  page  is  not  very  lucrative ;  and,  therefore, 
exclusive  of  the  circumstance  of  your  being  recom- 
mended to  me  by  my  friend  Monillo,  it  would  be  un- 
conscionable to  make  you  pay  much.  Two  doubloons 
will  be  sufficient.  But  this  is  not  the  price,"  con- 
tinued he,  "  to  officers  who  have  great  salaries  and 
numerous  perquisites.  For  example — you  observed, 
perhaps,  the  two  gentlemen  who  went  away ;  the 
tallest  cf  them  is  a  maitre-d'hotel  out  of  place,  and  I 
have  procured  him  a  salary  of  a  thousand  crowns  a 
year,  in  the  house  of  a  noble  duke,  who  is  celebrated 
for  his  hospitality.  The  other  I  have  appointed 
steward  to  a  large  estate,  which  is  deeply  encumbered 
with  debt." 

"  And  how  much,"  said  Monillo,  "  did  you  draw 
from  the  purses  of  these  gentlemen  ?" 

"  It  cost  the  maitre-d'hotel/'  replied  the  citizen, 
"  two  thousand  crowns,  and  the  steward  a  thousand 
pistoles." 

"  By  St.  Matthew,"  exclaimed  the  dwarf,  "  this  is 
swving  a  friend  gratuitously,     Your  conduct  to  them 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  265 

is  very  different  from  that  which  they  will  observe 
toward  their  masters." 

Confiding  in  the  promises  of  this  old  place-broker, 
that  he  would  the  ensuing  morning  enrol  me  among 
the  pages  of  the  Marquis  of  Astorga,  I  released  two 
doubloons,  which  were  nearly  the  whole  of  my  funds, 
and,  putting  them  into  his  hand,  returned  to  the 
hotel  with  my  host,  who  as  we  walked  along  said, 
"You  will  do  marvellously  well  at  the  house  of  the 
Marquis.  I  have  frequently  heard  this  nobleman 
spoken  of  as  a  most  amiable  character." 

"  It  is  to  you,  Signor  Monillo,"  said  I,  "  that  I  shall 
be  indebted  ;  and  I  cannot  sufficiently  thank  you  for 
your  kindness." 

The  ensuing  day  I  waited  on  my  old  friend  at  the 
hour  appointed,  and  he  immediately  conducted  me 
to  the  mansion  of  mv  intended  master,  where  the 
splendour  and  magnificence  which  shone  on  every 
side  struck  me  with  astonishment.  His  house  re- 
sembled rather  the  palace  of  a  king  than  the  dwelling 
of  a  subject. 

My  conductor  carried  me  directly  to  the  apartment 
of  the  major-domo,  and  whispered  something  in  his 
ear  ;  but  whatever  it  was,  the  major,  as  he  leaned  his 
ear  towards  the  speaker,  looked  at  me  from  time  to 
time  in  a  way  which  made  me  fancy  that  he  was  not 
dissatisfied  with  my  appearance  ;  and  when  the  old 
citizen  had  finished  his  whisper,  I  was  confirmed  in 
this  opinion,  for  the  major-domo  instantly  addressed 
me  in  these  words  : 

"  Young  man,  from  the  excellent  recommendation 
which  Signor  Cortes  has  given  me  of  you,  I  shall,  as 
soon  as  you  can  be  provided  with  a  proper  livery, 
receive  you  into  the  number  of  my  domestic  pages ; 


266  THE  HISTORY  OF 

but  from  this  day  you  will  live  in  this  mansion  scot- 
free." 

By  these  means  I  was  engaged  to  perform  the 
honourable  part  of  a  page  ;  but  it  is  one  of  the 
pleasing  advantages  of  this  station  that  the  yoke  of 
servitude  is  scarcely  felt,  and  the  moment  I  was 
apparelled  in  the  livery  of  my  lord  I  conceived 
myself  of  great  importance,  adopted  the  sentiments 
of  my  brethren,  and  became  disdainful  of  the  humble 
honour  of  cup-bearing. 

The  intoxication  which  sometimes  seizes  vulgar 
minds  upon  the  sudden  acquisition  of  high  rank  can- 
not be  surprising,  since  the  place  even  of  page  could 
inspire  a  gentleman  with  pride.  The  Marquis,  it  is 
true,  was  of  so  kind  and  accommodating  a  disposition, 
and  took  so  much  pains  to  soften  the  rigour  of  their 
servile  condition  by  his  conciliating  manners,  that 
his  domestics  of  every  description  seemed  to  serve 
him  less  from  duty  than  inclination.  Instead  of 
punishing  their  faults,  he  contrived  excuses  in  their 
defence. 

One  ,day  the  father  of  a  family  of  low  condition 
complained  to  the  Marquis  that  his  secretary  had 
seduced  his  daughter,  and  demanded  to  have  justice 
done.  "  But  what,"  replied  the  Marquis,  "  would 
you  have  me  do  in  this  affair  ?  My  secretary  is  a 
Frenchman,  and  you  know  that  Frenchmen  are  by 
nature  addicted  to  gallantry,  and  accustomed  to 
seduce  women.  We  must  excuse  it  in  them  ;  but  if 
my  porter,  who  is  a  German,  and  addicted  to  wine, 
had  committed  the  crime  of  which  you  accuse  my 
secretary,  I  would  have  had  him  hanged."  In 
short,  the  Marquis  of  Astorga  was  not  one  of  those 
characters  who  are  ever}'  moment  at  variance  with 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  267 

themselves,  and  with  whom  it  is  necessary  to  watch 
the  return  of  temper  to  obtain  their  kindness. 
Exempt  from  caprice,  and  uniform  in  his  conduct,  all 
persons  who  solicited  his  patronage  were  received 
with  politeness,  and  assured  of  his  interest  in  the 
warmest  and  most  affectionate  terms  ;  but,  in  truth, 
the  moment  they  were  gone  he  forgot  all  that  had 
passed,  and  never  recollected  his  promise  until  he 
saw  them  again.  I  was  myself  deceived  by  his 
specious  manners.  A  person  who  was  desirous  of  a 
place  in  the  office  of  the  minister  offered  me  a 
hundred  pistoles  to  procure  it  for  him  through  the 
interest  of  the  Marquis.  I  undertook  the  business, 
and  confidently  solicited  my  master  to  recommend 
the  man  I  named. 

"  I  shall  do  it  with  pleasure,  my  young  friend," 
replied  the  Marquis  with  an  obliging  voice.  "  I  am 
happy  to  find  you  sensible  of  my  inclination  to 
serve  you.  You  may  assure  your  friend  that  he 
shall  immediately  be  appointed  to  the  place.  I  will 
make  a  point  of  it  with  the  minister." 

Fearful  of  being  considered  importunate,  I  per- 
mitted more  than  a  month  to  elapse  before  I  renewed 
my  application,  contenting  myself  with  officiously 
appearing  at  least  ten  times  a  day  in  the  presence 
of  the  Marquis,  under  an  idea  that  my  disappointed 
countenance  and  extraordinary  assiduities  would  re- 
fresh his  memory  ;  but  as  he  did  not  give  me  the  most 
distant  hint  on  tht  subject,  and  time  run  rapidly 
away,  I  seized  an  opportunity  to  introduce  to  him 
the  person  I  was  so  deeply  interested  to  serve,  in 
hope  that  this  interview  would  produce  the  desired 
effect. 

"Sir,"   said   I,  "this  is  the  gentleman   for  whom 


268  THE  HISTORY  OF 

you    kindly    promised    to    procure   a    place    under 

government." 

At  these  words  the  Marquis,  as  if  he  had  recol- 
lected a  dream  effaced  by  time  from  his  memory, 
said  with  well-affected  surprise,  that  I  had  recalled 
to  his  mind  the  remembrance  of  a  promise  which  he 
had  forgot,  but  that  he  would  make  ample  reparation 
by  speaking  on  the  subject  to  the  Duke  of  Lerma,  or 
Don  Roderigo  de  Calderona,  who  at  that  time  held 
the  reins  of  administration. 

This  new  promise  gave  me  new  hopes,  and  I  waited 
patiently  another  month  in  daily  expectation  of  suc- 
cess ;  but  at  length  perceiving  that  I  was  no  farther 
advanced  than  I  was  the  first  day,  I  became  disgusted 
with  the  dilatory  and  deceitful  character  of  the  Mar- 
quis, and  resolved  to  attach  myself  to  some  other 
master,  upon  whose  promise  I  might  more  con- 
fidently rely. 

I  accordingly  communicated  my  intention  to  the  old 
place-broker,  who,  for  two  more  doubloons,  procured 
me  a  situation  with  the  Count  de  Orgas,  a  nobleman 
who,  he  assured  me,  was  reputed  to  be  the  slave  of 
sincerity,  and  extremely  fond  of  making  every  one 
happy ;  "  but,"  added  he,  "  it  is  my  duty  at  the  same 
time  to  inform  you  that  he  is  a  character  of  rather  a 
singular  kind.  His  disposition  is  so  quick,  blunt, 
and  hasty,  that  those  who  solicit  his  interest  are,  in 
general,  not  very  pleasantly  received.  He  destroys 
at  the  first  interview  every  hope  of  obtaining  the 
desired  object,  but  he  ultimately  endeavours  to  per- 
form the  services  required.  The  manner  in  which 
he  confers  favours  is  extremely  ungracious." 

"  What  does  it  matter?"  interrupted  I  ;  "he  does 
confer  them,  and  is  on  that   account  a  much  more 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  269 

valuable  character  than  the  Marquis  of  Astorga, 
who  promises  everything  to  everybody,  but  performs 
nothing  to  any." 

A  few  days  after  I  had  changed  my  situation,  I 
observed,  indeed,  that  my  new  master  was  a  very 
extraordinary  character,  and  directly  the  reverse  of 
that  of  the  Marquis  of  Astorga.  The  Marquis  never 
complained  of  the  conduct  of  his  servants;  whether 
they  performed  their  duties  ill  or  well,  he  always 
appeared  satisfied  ;  but  the  Count,  on  the  contrary, 
reproved  his  whenever  they  really  deserved  it,  and 
sometimes  addressed  them  in  terms  of  great  seve- 
rity. When  any  person  humbly  implored  his  pro- 
tection, and  solicited  his  interest  with  the  king,  he 
immediately  flew  into  a  violent  passion  with  the 
supplicant,  reviled  him  in  the  strongest  terms,  posi- 
tively refused  him  any  assistance,  and  then  did  all  in 
his  power  to  serve  him. 

I  shall  never,  continued  Don  Marcos,  forget  a  scene 
at  which  I  was  present.  A  woman,  dressed  in  mourn- 
ing, waited  on  the  Count.  "  Sir,"  said  she,  on  being 
introduced  to  him,  "as  I  know  your  excellency  is 
extremely  charitable,  I  have  ventured  to  hope  that 
my  misery  may  touch  your  heart.  I  am  the  widow 
of  an  officer  in  the  Spanish  guards,  who  has  left  me 
with  four  children,  and  little  or  nothing  to  support 
them.  If  you  would  be  kind  enough  to  solicit  his 
majesty  to  grant  me  a  small  pension  to  enable  me 
to" 

The  Count  did  not  give  her  time  to  finish  the 
sentence,  but  interrupting  her  with  great  impetuo- 
sity— "Solicit,  ay,  solicit,"  said  he  in  a  blunt  tone; 
"you  think  it  is  only  necessary  to  solicit  such  pen- 
sions of  the  king  to  have  them  granted.     Do  you 


270  THE  HISTORY  OF 

think  he  is  thus  prodigal  of  his  favours?  No,  no, 
truly ;  there  are  other  objects  than  such  as  you  are 
to  recompense.  If  he  were  to  grant  pensions  to 
every  person  in  his  service,  his  whole  revenues  would 
not  be  sufficient." 

The  afflicted  widow  attempted  to  reply.  But  the 
Count  again  interrupted  her,  saying  with  warmth, 
"  Retire,  madam ;  I  will  not  interfere  on  this  occa- 
sion. I  will  not  engage  in  such  unwarrantable 
solicitations." 

During  this  interview  he  finished  dressing,  and 
immediately  entering  his  coach,  drove  to  the  king's 
levee,  leaving  the  widow  equally  dejected  and  asto- 
nished at  the  unfavourable  reception  she  had  met  with. 

The  widow,  however,  not  easily  repulsed,  or  per- 
haps informed  by  some  friend  of  the  Count's  char- 
acter, followed  him  to  the  palace,  in  the  hope  of 
being  able  to  procure  another  interview,  and  to  renew 
her  suit  with  more  success.  Waiting  patiently  for 
three  hours  at  the  palace  gate,  through  which  he  was 
obliged  to  pass  on  his  return  home,  she  approached 
him  just  as  he  was  stepping  into  his  coach. 

"Oh!  sir,"  she  cried,  "  take  pity  on  my  poor  children!" 

"  Woman,"  replied  he  gruffly,  "go  home,  go  home; 
I  have  spoken  to  his  majesty,  and  he  has  granted  you 
an  annuity  of  one  hundred  pistoles." 

The  Count  de  Orgas,  in  short,  was  an  amiable  brute 
and  the  most  generous  nobleman  in  the  kingdom. 

Among  other  good  qualities,  he  possessed  one 
which  is  extremely  rare.  He  never  failed,  after  a 
certain  number  of  years,  to  reward  the  fidelity  of  his 
servants  ;  and  as  he  had  conceived  an  affection  for 
me,  I  should,  without  doubt,  have  made  my  fortune 
in  proper  time,  if  I  had  not  unfortunately  quarrelled 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  271 

with  one  of  his  gentlemen  respecting  a  young  female 
who  waited  on  the  Countess.  Each  of  us  loved  the 
beauteous  maid  without  being  conscious  wc  were 
rivals,  and  I  do  not  know  which  of  us  was  the  most 
favoured  lover;  for  she  conducted  herself  so  dexte- 
rously, that  we  each  of  us  flattered  ourselves  with 
being  the  sole  object  of  her  choice.  But  however 
dexterously  an  amorous  intrigue  may  for  a  certain 
time  be  carried  on,  it  will  be  discovered  at  last.  My 
rival  learnt,  I  cannot  tell  by  what  means,  that  the 
sound  of  my  guitar  was  heard  every  evening,  and 
that  I  was  endeavouring  to  captivate  the  affection  of 
Donna  Innes.  Upon  this  information  he  immediately 
sent  me  a  challenge ;  and  I  flew  instantly  to  the  ap- 
pointed spot,  where  I  found  my  adversary  waiting 
to  receive  me.  We  had  already  drawn  our  swords, 
and  put  ourselves  into  a  posture  of  defence,  when 
my  gentleman,  suddenly  dropping  all  his  fury,  said, 
"  Listen  to  me,  sir ;  a  momentary  reflection,  which  I 
think  it  necessary  to  communicate  to  you  before  we 
proceed,  has  stopped  my  arm.  What  is  it  we  are 
about  to  do  ?  By  destroying  our  lives  we  destroy 
the  reputation  of  Donna  Innes.  Is  this  proceeding 
like  Spaniards  ?  The  honour  of  a  mistress,  however 
faithless,  ought  to  be  preserved.  But  why  faith- 
less ?  for  I  have  no  proof  of  Donna  Innes's  infidelity. 
Ought  I,  upon  slight  suspicion,  to  indulge  a  jealous 
fury?" 

"No,"  replied  I,  "it  is  unjust;  and  if  you  will 
admit  that  you  have  been  too  hasty,  it  will  be  my 
wish  that  all  hostility  should  cease.  I  have  not  so 
great  a  desire  to  quarrel  with  you  as  to  be  deaf  to  the 
voice  of  reason  on  the  subject ;  and  it  is  sufficient 
for  me,  that  in  thus  readily  appearing  to  your  dial- 


272  THE  HISTORY  OF 

lenge,  I  have  convinced  you  that  I  am  not  a  man 
whose  courage  is  to  be  contemned." 

My  rival,  assuming  at  these  words  the  most  friendly 
aspect,  exclaimed,  while  he  embraced  me,  "  Don  Mar- 
cos, let  us  forget  what  has  passed.  Permit  me  to 
hope  for  the  continuance  of  your  friendship,  while  I 
afford  you  mine." 

Thus  were  two  fierce  antagonists,  mutually  eager 
to  cut  each  other's  throats,  reconciled  ;  but  as  the 
cause  of  the  quarrel  still  existed,  war  was  every 
moment  in  danger  of  breaking  out  between  them. 
The  Count  de  Orgas,  however,  soon  set  all  matters 
right.  A  valet-de-chambre,  one  of  those  prying  crea- 
tures who  hears  and  sees  everything  that  stirs  in  a 
house,  and  who  had  conceived  antipathies  against 
both  of  us,  seized  the  first  favourable  opportunity  to 
inform  the  Count,  not  only  of  our  quarrel,  but  of  the 
cause  which  had  given  birth  to  it  ;  and  the  Count, 
who  was  by  nature  rigid  and  severe,  turned  us  both 
instantly  out  of  doors,  as  common  disturbers  of  his 
domestic  tranquillity. 

I  returned  to  the  hotel  of  my  good  friend  Monillo, 
whose  interest  with  the  major-domo  of  the  Duke  of 
Pegnaranda  was  sufficient  to  procure  me  the  situa- 
tion of  page  to  that  nobleman.  The  Duke  was 
between  sixty  and  seventy  years  of  age,  and  pos- 
sessed all  that  tender  and  benign  disposition  which 
distinguished  the  character  of  the  Marquis  of  As- 
torga,  without  the  defect  of  forgetting  his  promises. 
But  although  he  was  free  from  this  defect,  he  was 
under  the  dominion  of  a  folly  which  rendered  him 
ridiculous  in  the  eye  of  the  world.  Addicted  to 
gallantry  from  his  youth,  the  habits  of  it  still  accom- 
panied his  old  age.     Fondly  devoted  to  a  coquette. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  273 

whom  he  made  the  idol  of  his  soul,  he  passed  whole 
days  in  conversing  with  her,  admiring  extravagantly 
every  word  she  uttered,  and  sometimes  extolling 
whatever  was  most  defective  in  her  person.  lie 
resembled  Balbinus  in  Horace,  who  praised  even  the 
wart  which  disfigured  the  nose  of  his  mistress. 

An  idolater  of  this  description  was,  as  will  be  easily 
conceived,  not  well  rewarded  for  all  the  flatteries 
he  bestowed.  The  lady  disposed  of  the  complaisance 
of  listening  to  his  adulations  extremely  dear;  and, 
exclusive  of  the  prodigious  expense  he  lavished  on 
her,  she  was  far  from  being  scrupulously  faithful  to 
him.  A  rumour  prevailed  that  he  had  more  than  one 
rival,  and  the  report  was  not  without  foundation. 
But  it  gained  no  credit  in  the  mind  of  my  doating 
master,  who,  piquing  himself  upon  making  love  upon 
the  principles  of  knight-errantry,  would  have  thought 
it  criminal  to  suspect  the  virtue  of  his  mistress  ;  an 
excellent  lesson  to  those  lovers  who,  upon  appear- 
ances, frequently  false,  become  the  prey  of  a  tor- 
menting jealousy. 

The  Duke,  at  the  time  I  was  received  into  his 
service,  doated  to  excess  on  his  fair  favourite.  It 
was  not  long  before  I  gained  his  confidence.  "  Page," 
said  he  to  me  the  first  day,  "  your  countenance  pleases 
me,  and  I  have  made  choice  of  you  to  execute  a 
secret  and  confidential  service."  At  the  same  time  he 
gave  me  a  letter  tc  carry  to  his  nymph,  whose  name 
was  Hortensia,  and  who  lived  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Duke's  mansion.  I  presented  my  billet  to  the  lady 
with  a  graceful  air,  and  acquitted  myself  in  this 
honourable  employment  with  as  much  dexterity  as 
those  who  are  more  in  practice. 

The  lady,  never  having  seen  me  before,  looked  at 

S 


'274  THE  HISTORY  OF 

I 

me  for  some  time  with    particular    attention ;    then 

opened  the  letter  ;  and  I  felt,  or  affected  to  feel,  while 

she    was    reading    it,   an    ecstasy   of   pleasure.     She 

resembled  the  tender  Florisbel  perusing  a  billet  from 

her  dear  Don  Belianis.     Soft  sighs  escaped  from  her 

lips,  and  once  or  twice  she  seemed  to  faint  away  with 

ecstasy  of  delight.     So  well,  indeed,  did  she  act  her 

part,  that  if  I  had  not  received  my  cue  from  Monillo, 

I  should  really  have  fancied  her  to  be  foolishly  fond 

of  my  master. 

Having  performed  this  character,  she  assumed 
another.  "  Are  you  the  Duke  of  Pegnaranda's  page?" 
said  she.  "  Let  me  congratulate  you  on  your  situa- 
tion ;  you  cannot,  my  young  friend,  serve  a  more 
amiable  nobleman." 

"Madam,"  replied  I,  "although  I  have  scarcely 
held  this  honourable  post  for  twenty-four  hours,  I 
have  had  more  than  one  occasion  to  rejoice  at  my 
appointment.  The  Duke  has  convinced  me  that  I 
have  the  felicity  to  please  him  ;  and  I  trust  he  will 
have  no  reason  to  change  the  opinion  he  entertains 
in  my  favour.  All  my  endeavours  shall  be  exerted, 
madam,  to  preserve  his  approbation,  and  to  render 
myself  worthy  of  your  protection." 

"  My  protection  is  granted  to  you  from  this  mo- 
ment," replied  Hortensia  ;  "you  appear  to  deserve  it. 
Go,"  added  she,  "and  be  assured  of  my  influence  with 
the  Duke  in  your  favour.  It  shall  not  be  my  fault  if 
you  do  not  make  your  fortune  in  his  service." 

Although  I  conceived  that  these  promises  were 
made  to  induce  me  to  espouse  her  interests  with  the 
Duke,  I  feigned  to  attribute  them  entirely  to  her 
goodness;  and,  offering  her  repeated  thanks,  returned 
home,  where  the  Duke  was  waiting  my  arrival. 


VANILLO  GONZALl.S.  275 

"Well,  page,"  said  he,  "you  have  now  seen  ITor- 
tensia;  what  is  your  opinion  of  that  divine  creature? 
Does  she  not  truly  justify  all  the  tenderness  I  enter- 
tain for  her  ?  " 

"  My  lord,"  replied  I,  not  ignorant  of  the  sort  of 
tale  which  would  flatter  him,  "  Donna  Hortensia 
appears  to  be  all  perfection,  and  highly  deserving  of 
your  attachment.  But,  charming  as  she  is,  you  ought 
to  be  less  delighted  with  her  beauty  than  with  the 
ardency  of  her  affection.  While  she  read  your  letter, 
I  observed,  notwithstanding  all  her  caution,  that  her 
heart  overflowed  with  delight.  The  tenderest  sighs, 
the  warmest  transports,  and  the  softest  languor  dis- 
covered the  affection  of  her  soul." 

A  narration  so  extravagant  must  have  offended 
every  mind  but  that  of  this  doating  lover,  whose 
credulity  was  so  insatiable,  that  I  was  in  no  danger 
of  disgusting  him. 

"  The  discovery  you  made,"  cried  he,  "  transports 
me.  You  see  with  what  injustice  Hortensia  is  accused 
by  those  who  would  impeach  the  sincerity  of  her 
affection." 

"  Oh  !  certainly,  sir,"  replied  I  ;  "  I  can  rely  on  my 
own  eyes ;  and  after  what  I  have  seen,  there  is  no 
doubt  of  your  being  tenderly  beloved." 

"  I  believe  it,"  replied  the  Duke  ;  "  and  being  as 
certain  of  possessing  her  heart  as  I  am  conscious  that 
she  possesses  mine,  I  shall  continue  to  enjoy  the 
pleasures  of  this  happy  intercourse  without  being 
disturbed  by  the  babblings  of  evil  fame." 

"  This,"  replied  I,  "  is  the  sure  way  to  avoid  the 
miseries  of  love.  You  act  wisely  by  relying  thus 
implicitly  on  the  fidelity  of  Hortensia." 

"  I  should  injure  her  by  doubting  it,"  replied  he  ■ 


276  THE  HISTORY  OF 

"  Hortensia  possesses  an  elevated  soul  and  the  most 
exalted  sentiments.  The  dreams  of  sleep  even  offer 
nothing  but  the  noblest  images  to  her  mind.  I 
visited  her,  for  example,  yesterday  evening,  and 
found  her  asleep.  Approaching  softly  towards  the 
couch,  without  waking  her,  I  stood  for  some  time  in 
silent  admiration  of  her  charms.  I  am  ignorant  of 
the  subject  which  occupied  her  mind  ;  but,  in  dream- 
ing, she  twice  pronounced  the  word  page.  Accom- 
plished woman!  there  is  not  another  of  the  sex  who 
would  not  have  used  the  vulgar  term  of  lackey;  but 
the  divine  Hortensia,  whose  mind  is  constantly  filled 
with  sublime  ideas,  used  the  appellation  page? 

I  could  scarcely  refrain  from  laughing  aloud  at  my 
employer  while  he  uttered  these  words,  but  for- 
tunately I  had  power  to  resist  it.  I  even  applauded 
the  extravagant  idea  of  this  doating  lover,  and  flat- 
tered his  passions  by  telling  him  that  he  was,  without 
doubt,  the  interesting  subject  of  her  dream. 

"  You  are  right,"  replied  he,  with  a  vain  and  half- 
witted smile,  "  for  Hortensia  told  me  confidentially 
what  it  was." 

Two  days  subsequent  to  this  conversation,  I  was 
again  despatched  to  the  residence  of  Hortensia  with 
another  epistle,  which  she  read  with  the  same  demon- 
strations of  joy  as  upon  the  former  occasion.  During 
this  interview,  she  asked  me  a  thousand  questions 
respecting  the  place  of  my  birth,  and  the  condition  of 
my  family.  Having  satisfied  her  curiosity  on  these 
subjects,  she  inquired  into  the  cause  which  induced 
me  to  leave  my  home,  and  from  what  motives  I  had 
come  from  Madrid.  I  told  her  my  only  view  was  to 
seek  the  protection  of  some  great  man,  by  attaching 
myself  to  his  interests. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  277 

1 
"  I  am  extremely  happy,  then,"  replied  she,  "  that 
chance  has  thrown  you  into  the  service  of  the  Duke 
of  Pegnaranda.  I  may  be  able  to  render  you  many 
good  offices  with  him.  I  have  indeed  already  disposed 
his  mind  in  your  favour;  and  it  will  not  be  long 
before  you  perceive  the  good  effects  of  my  interposi- 
tion." 

On  receiving  these  assurances,  I  expressed  my 
thanks  in  terms  which  discovered,  on  my  part,  the 
grateful  sensibility  of  my  heart;  and  the  kind  dis- 
course she  had  held  with  me  seemed  to  reveal  some- 
thing significant  on  hers ;  my  vanity,  at  least,  made 
me  so  imagine;  and  the  next  time  I  was  sent  to  her 
house,  I  was  made  acquainted  with  the  cause  of  it. 

Hortensia,  on  that  day,  did  not  think  proper  to 
grant  me  an  audience.  Celia,  her  old  female  servant, 
and  the  depositary  of  her  secrets,  received  me,  say- 
ing, "  If  you  have  any  letter  for  my  mistress,  she 
desires  you  will  deliver  it  to  me.  I  shall  give  it  to 
her  after  she  has  had  a  little  repose,  for  she  is  at 
present  indisposed  with  a  headache  which  torments 
her  incessantly.  O  fatal  love,  how  often  have  I 
cursed  thee  !" 

"What  do  you  say,  Celia?"  exclaimed  I,  with 
astonishment.  "Why  this  imprecation?  Can  my 
master  have  given  uneasiness  to  your  mistress  ? — to 
this  divine  idol  of  his  soul  ?  Has  he,  by  any  mo- 
mentary fit  of  jealous}',  troubled  " 

"  Shameful  thought,"  interrupted  Celia  ;  "  his  Grace 
is  too  fond  a  lover  to  permit  the  smallest  trait  of 
jealousy  to  escape  him.  No,  no,  that  is  not  the  cause 
of  her  indisposition  ;  but,"  added  she,  with  an  air  of 
concealment,  "  I  am  silent.  If,  indeed,  your  beard 
were  a  little  older,  I  might  perhaps  say  more  to  you." 


278  THE  HISTORY  OF 

"Oh!  Madam  Celia,"  interrupted  I  in  my  turn, 
"you  reproach  my  youth;  but  let  me  tell  you  that  I 
am  capable  of  keeping  a  secret,  however  important  it 
maybe.  I  have  learnt  discretion,  although  I  am  only 
a  page.     Try  me,  if  you  have  any  doubt." 

"  I  have  a  great  mind,"  replied  Celia,  "  to  tell  it 
to  you ;  and  if  I  should,  you  will  hear  something  that 
will  surprise  you  very  much.  My  mistress,  since  her 
last  conversation  with  you,  has  done  nothing  but 
dream,  and  sigh,  and  groan,  and  talk  of  you.  Guess 
what  this  means." 

"I  will  tell  you,"  replied  I,  "what  this  means. 
You  and  your  mistress  are  willing  to  entertain  your- 
selves at  my  expense,  by  inducing  me  to  believe  that 
she  has  not  disdained  to  regard  me  with  affection, 
and  that  I  have,  in  short,  made  a  tender  impression 
on  her  heart ;  and  you  are  now  curious  to  learn 
whether  I  am  simpleton  enough  to  believe  it.  Con- 
fess the  truth,  Celia.  Do  not  you  contrive  this  rare 
scheme  as  a  means  of  pleasing  the  Duke,  and  afford- 
ing all  three  of  you  an  occasion  to  laugh  at  me  ?  I 
have  not,  it  is  true,  had  much  experience,  but  I 
clearly  perceive  this  is  a  snare  whioh  you  have  laid  to 
entrap  my  mind  rather  than  my  heart." 

"  I  am  glad  to  find,"  replied  the  old  woman,  "  that 
you  are  not  sufficiently  presumptuous  to  think  other- 
wise. Young  men  in  general  are  not  quite  so  modest, 
and  many  in  your  situation  would  have  entertained 
so  good  an  opinion  of  themselves,  as  to  have  thought 
differently  on  such  an  occasion.  But,"  added  she,  "  I 
may  perhaps  be  mistaken  ;  it  may  not  be  from 
modesty  that  you  are  thus  incredulous  of  her  love. 
Come,  be  candid  and  sincere.  You  think  there  are 
no  allurements  in  the  conquest  you  have  made  ? " 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  >79 

"Oh!  pardon  me!"  exclaimed  I;  "of  all  the 
women  I  ever  saw,  she  is  the  woman  to  whom  I  could 
be  most  fondly  attached." 

"Are  you  really  serious,  young  man  ?"  cried  Celia 
with  emotion  ;  "  speak  sincerely.  Does  my  mistress 
please  you  ? " 

"  I  should  adore  her,"  replied  I  with  transport,  "  and 
become  even  a  greater  fool  to  her  than  my. master." 

Celia,  on  hearing  these  words,  began  to  dance  for 
joy  ;  and  gently  tapping  me  on  the  shoulder,  said, 
"  Ah  !  go,  you  young  rogue  ;  you  are  happier  than 
a  greater  man.  Go,  and  return  here  to-morrow 
precisely  at  the  same  hour.  Donna  Hortensia," 
added  she,  "  will  then  no  longer  be  troubled  with 
the  headache,  and  you  shall  have  with  her  a  decisive 
interview." 

Although  this  promise  appeared  clear  and  satisfac- 
tory, yet  I  did  not  dare  entirely  to  abandon  myself 
to  those  flattering  hopes  which  began  to  arise  in  my 
mind.  Fearful  that  it  might  be  some  artful  con- 
trivance between  the  mistress  and  the  maid  to  sport 
with  my  feelings,  and  that  the  adventure  might  termi- 
nate to  the  confusion  of  the  page, — for  I  could  not 
Conceive  that  a  lady  who  was  thus  adored  by  a  noble- 
man of  high  distinction,  would  condescend  to  fix  her 
affections  upon  me, — I  returned  home  fatigued  by' 
conflicting  reflections,  and  the  ensuing  day  returned 
to  the  residence  of  Hortensia,  my  mind  replete  with 
jealousy  and  my  heart  with  love. 

I  have  no  doubt,  continued  Don  Marcos,  that  you 
are  curious  to  know  the  particulars  of  the  decisive 
Interview  which  I  was  promised,  and  which  I  actually 
had  with  Hortensia.     I  shall  relate  them. 

The  lady,  when  I  entered  her  apartment, lay  reclin- 


280  THE  HISTORY  OF 

ing  on  a  sofa,  dressed  in  a  loose  robe,  elegantly 
adorned,  and  looked  so  charming,  that  if  the  matter 
had  not  been  already  settled,  I  should  certainly  have 
fallen  in  love  with  her. 

"Madam,"  said  I, as  I  approached  the  sofa,  "I  sur- 
render myself  a  willing  victim  of  your  pleasantry;  for, 
by  making  me  believe  that  I  am  the  object  of  your 
affection,  I  must  suppose  that  you  and  Celia  have 
combined  to  entertain  yourselves  at  my  expense;  but 
I  am  not  a  dupe  to  the  conceit,  for  I  know  myself 
too  well  to  flatter  my  mind  with  the  hope  of  happi- 
ness so" 

"  Listen  to  me,  Don  Marcos,"  interrupted  Hor- 
tensia  seriously.  "You  have  deceived  yourself: 
there  is  no  contrivance  in  this  business,  nor  shall  any 
be  used  by  me.  Speak  candidly,  therefore, — do  you 
love  me  ? " 

A  question  of  this  kind,  put  so  directly,  rather  sur- 
prised me. 

"  Madam,"  replied  I,  "what  mortal  can  defend  his 
heart  against  so  many  charms  ?  One  benign  look 
from  you  is  sufficient  to  " 

"Answer  precisely  the  question  I  have  asked 
you,"  interrupted  Hortensia  with  great  precipitation  ; 
"  answer  it  without  subterfuge  or  equivocation.  Do 
you  entertain  an  affection  for  me  ? " 

"  An  affection  for  you,  madam  !  "  exclaimed  I  with 
transport  ;  "  yes,  at  the  hazard  of  whatever  may 
follow.  Vouch  for  me,  O  truth  !  that  the  heart  of 
mortal  never  felt  a  purer  flame.  To  join  my  fate  to 
yours  will  render  me  the  happiest  of  human  beings. 
Pardon,  divine  Hortensia,  the  rash  declaration  which 
has  escaped  my  lips  ;  and  yet  how  shall  I  otherwise 
answer  the  question  you  propounded  ?  " 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  281 

"Your  answer  satisfies  me,"  replied  Ilortensia; 
"and  to  be  equally  candid,  listen  while  I  disclose  the 
sentiments  of  my  mind.  The  first  moment  I  beheld 
you,  I  felt  the  impression  you  have  made  on  my 
heart;  and  since  that  moment  my  inclination  in  your 
favour  has  so  rapidly  increased,  that  I  resolved  to 
offer  you,  with  my  hand,  a  fortune,  in  gold  and 
jewels,  of  thirty  thousand  pistoles.  Let  us  retire 
with  this  fortune  from  Madrid  to  any  place  in  the 
country  that  you  shall  make  choice  of,  and  there  pass 
the  remainder  of  our  lives  in  a  delightful  union  ;  a 
union  which  will  be  the  more  permanent  as  it  will  not 
be  repugnant  to  the  divine  will." 

I  fancy,  Signor  Gonzales,  continued  Don  Marcos, 
that  you  would  have  been,  as  I  certainly  was, 
dazzled  by  this  splendid  proposal.  It  had,  how- 
ever, two  aspects,  which  were  not  equally  pleasing 
to  my  view.  The  charms  of  Hortensia,  and  the 
magnitude  of  her  fortune,  afforded  a  delightful 
prospect  to  an  indigent  page;  but  the  idea  which 
accompanied  it,  that  I  should  be  obliged  to  marry 
a  woman  of  doubtful  reputation,  presented  a  pill 
extremely  bitter  to  the  palate  of  a  gentleman.  What 
opinion,  said  I  to  myself,  will  the  world  entertain  of 
me  ?  My  father  and  my  grandfather,  preferring 
honour  to  wealth,  chose  wives  of  the  chastest  char- 
acters; but  I,  degenerating  from  their  delicacy,  am 
about  to  dishonour  their  names  by  a  disgraceful  con- 
nection. The  pride  of  family  whispered  thus  sternly 
in  my  ear,  and  I  listened  to  its  dictates  for  several 
moments;  but  that  being  all  I  was  enabled  to  do  for 
the  honour  of  my  ancestors,  I  accepted  Hortensia's 
proposal  with  every  imaginable  demonstration  of 
gratitude  and  love. 


282  THE  HISTORY  OF 

"  Charming  Hortensia  !  "  exclaimed  I,  throwing 
myself  at  her  feet,  "  may  I  then  really  hope  that 
you  will  condescend  to  join  your  destiny  with  mine? 
No  happiness  can  equal  that  which  you  confer  on 
me." 

While  I  spoke  these  words  T  kissed  with  soft  trans- 
port her  fair  hands,  and  perceived  by  her  looks  that, 
in  granting-  me  this  favour,  she  partook  of  the  pleasure 
she  bestowed.  A  conversation  of  the  tenderest  kind 
ensued,  in  which  we  endeavoured  to  make  choice  of 
the  place  to  which  we  should  retire.  I  proposed  the 
Asturias. 

"  Come,  my  Hortensia,"  said  I  to  her,  "  let  us,  if 
it  please  you,  reside  with  my  father  at  his  chateau, 
near  Oviedo,  between  Pegnafior  and  Manserret ;  the 
situation  is  delightful,  and  nothing  shall  be  wanting, 
either  on  the  part  of  Don  Vincent  or  myself,  to  make 
you  happy." 

"  Every  place,"  replied  Hortensia,  "  where  you  are 
will  always  be  the  most  delightful  to  me.  Let  us  not 
delay  our  felicity.  Write  immediately  to  your  father, 
and  solicit  his  consent  to  our  union  ;  for  his  consent 
must  precede  the  execution  of  our  design." 

"  I  cannot  avoid  trembling  for  your  situation  at 
this  period,"  said  I,  interrupting  Don  Marcos.  "  Don 
Vincent,  I  apprehend,  refused  his  consent  to  this 
marriage  ;  for  Hidalgos  are  extremely  nice  upon  the 
subject  of  family  alliances,  and  scrutinise  closely  into 
every  circumstance." 

"The  observation,"  replied  Don  Marcos,  "is,  in 
general,  very  true ;  but  my  father  is  as  avaricious  as 
he  is  poor,  and  upon  these  circumstances  I  relied  for 
his  consent,  which,  as  the  connection  appeared  so 
advantageous  both  to  himself  .aid  lo  me,  he  granted 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  283 

without  hesitation.  Besides,  examples  were  not 
wanting  of  many  noblemen  who,  to  readorn  a  castle 
tottering  to  its  fall,  had  united  themselves,  without 
much  compunction,  to  persons  of  an  inferior  degree; 
riches  having  at  all  times  proved  the  best  props  of 
indigent  nobility.  Blinded,  in  short,  by  the  brilliancy 
of  the  thirty  thousand  pistoles,  he  listened  to  self- 
interest  alone,  and  instantly  exhorted  me  not  to  let 
slip  so  fine  an  opportunity  of  rendering  myself  inde- 
pendent. Preparations,  therefore,  were  immediately 
made  to  consummate  a  hymeneal  equally  desired  by 
all  parties,  and  we  were  shortly  afterwards  privately 
married."    . 

"  But  what  said  the  Duke  de  Pegnaranda  to  all 
this  ?  "  cried  I ;  "  I  long  to  hear  it." 

"You  shall  be  informed  directly,"  replied  Girafa, 
"and  it  certainly  forms  the  most  curious  trait  of  this 
transaction.  Infatuated  with  the  idea  that  Hortensia 
loved  him  to  distraction,  although  he  was  only  her 
lover  ad  Jiouores^  the  old  dotard  lived  tranquil  and 
contentedly  for  some  time  under  this  agreeable  de- 
lusion— a  delusion  which  both  Hortensia  and  I 
endeavoured  to  support  until  we  were  prepared  to 
leave  Madrid  ;  when,  in  order  to  preserve  the  interests 
of  a  nobleman  of  his  importance,  my  wife,  on  the 
eve  of  our  departure,  wrote  to  him  in  the  following 
terms  : — 

"  '  My  LORD  DUKE, — We  must  now  part  for  ever. 
A  dream,  which  I  regard  as  a  secret  warning  from 
Heaven,  has  induced  me  to  retire  from  the  world.  I 
intend  to  bury  myself  in  a  retreat  sacred  to  penitence, 
and  must  bid  you  an  eternal  adieu. 

"  *  Hortensia.'  " 


284  THE  HISTORY  OF 

This  letter  I  delivered,  in  my  character  of  page, 
into  the  Duke's  hands. 

"Is  it  possible,"  said  he,  on  reading  it,  "that  a 
dream  can  make  so  lively  an  impression  ?" 

"Yes,  sir,  upon  a  female  mind,"  replied  I  ;  "many 
women  are  weak  enough  to  put  great  faith  in  dreams. 
You  recollect  that,  very  lately,  an  actress  of  the 
king's  theatre  has,  upon  the  faith  of  a  dream,  retired 
from  the  stage  into  a  convent;  where  she  passes  her 
days  in  pious  edification." 

The  Duke  appeared  to  feel  the  loss  of  his  idol  with 
the  deepest  mortification  ;  but  the  virtuous  man, 
believing  it  to  have  been  ordained  from  Heaven,  left 
her  quietly  to  follow  her  own  inclinations. 

By  these  means  Hortensia  disengaged  herself  from 
her  old  gallant. 

On  my  part  I  adopted  the  following  stratagem  to 
procure  my  discharge  without  giving  the  Duke  any 
personal  displeasure.  I  intentionally  affronted  the 
major-domo,  who  thereupon  immediately  turned  me 
away. 

On  a  delightful  morning,  just  before  the  break 
of  day,  Hortensia  and  I  left  Madrid,  and  directing 
our  course  towards  the  Asturias,  she  and  her  female 
attendant  in  a  carriage,  and  I  following  on  horseback, 
attended  by  four  or  five  valets  to  conduct  the  mules 
which  carried  our  baggage,  we  happily  passed 
through  either  Old  Castile  or  the  province  of  Leon, 
and  arrived,  with  all  our  riches,  safely  at  my  father's 
house. 

The  appearance  of  so  many  mules  laden  with 
packages  immediately  attracted  the  old  man's  atten- 
tion ;  and,  considering  them  as  so  much  treasure, 
afforded  him  the  highest  pleasure.      He  received  his 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  285 

daughter-in-law,  whom  I  immediately  presented  to 
him,  in  the  most  gracious  manner  imaginable,  and 
being  extremely  pleased  with  her  personal  demeanour, 
and  particularly  with  her  modest  manners,  which,  as 
he  expected  to  see  a  person  of  a  lively  ardent  dis- 
position, he  could  not  very  well  reconcile  to  his  pre- 
conceptions of  her  character,  he  complimented  me 
in  her  hearing. 

"  My  son,"  said  he,  "  I  applaud  your  choice,  and 
I  now  candidly  tell  you  that  you  will  no  longer  ex- 
clusively enjoy  my  affection,  for  this  lady  will,  I  am 
certain,  possess  one  half  of  it." 

Amiable,  however,  as  Hortensia  appeared  in  person 
and  manners  to  the  eyes  of  Don  Vincent,  her  fortune, 
which  I  immediately  showed  to  him,  gave  him  supe- 
rior pleasure. 

"  Those  bags,"  said  I,  "  contain  twenty  thousand 
pistoles." 

"  How,  twenty  thousand  ! "  exclaimed  my  father 
with  precipitation.  "Why!  did  you  not  inform  me 
that  her  fortune  would  amount,  in  gold  and  jewels, 
to  thirty  thousand  pistoles  ?  " 

"True,"  replied  I  ;  "  I  am  in  possession  of  a  for- 
tune to  that  amount ;  for  I  have  ten  thousand 
pistoles  in  the  hands  of  Abel  Zacharia,  the  great 
banker  of  Madrid." 

My  father  seemed  thunderstruck  at  these  words. 
"Oh  !  misery,  misery,"  exclaimed  he,  "what  have  you 
done  I     You  have  lent  your  money  to  " 

"  W*iy,"  replied  I  hastily,  "  his  credit  is  unques- 
tioned. Zacharia  is  a  good  man;  he  never  can 
fail." 

"Never  fail!"  exclaimed  Don  Vincent  ravingly. 
"  How  indiscreet  a  confidence  1   I  would  not  to  " ■ 


286  THE  HISTORY  OF 

"  I  assert  even  more,"  interrupted  I  again,  "  that 
Zacharia  is  sure;  I  lent  him  the  money,  not  only 
at  a  great  rate  of  interest,  but  I  have  taken  his  notes 
for  it." 

"  At  great  interest,  say  you  ?"  replied  Don  Vincent. 
"  Why,  that  alone  makes  me  suspect  him.  Call  in  this 
money  immediately.  I  doubt  even  whether  he  may 
not,  at  this  very  moment,  be  a  bankrupt." 

Vainly  did  I  endeavour  to  dispel  the  fears  of  my 
father;  for  nothing  would  satisfy  him  but  a  promise 
that  I  would  return  to  Madrid  and  withdraw  my 
pistoles  from  the  hands  of  Zacharia.  I  was  also 
obliged,  in  order  to  quiet  the  perturbed  spirit  of  the 
good  man,  to  hasten  my  departure,  whatever  reluct- 
ance I  might  have  to  absent  myself  from  a  wife  who 
became  more  dear  to  me  every  day.  Hortensia,  on 
her  part,  though  extremely  vexed  at  the  thoughts  of 
parting,  readily  consented  to  the  journey,  the  better 
to  please  my  father,  who  felt  himself  extremely  flat- 
tered by  this  mark  of  her  attention.  In  fifteen  days 
therefore  after  my  arrival  at  the  Asturias,  I  remounted 
my  horse,  and  accompanied  by  a  single  servant,  as 
well  mounted  as  myself,  departed  for  Madrid,  making 
long  stages,  less  indeed  to  satisfy  Don  Vincent,  than 
to  return  as  soon  as  it  was  possible  to  the  arms  of 
Hortensia. 

The  instant  I  arrived  at  Madrid,  I  went  to  the 
house  of  Abel  Zacharia,  who  immediately  asked 
what  he  could  do  to  serve  me.  I  replied,  that  I  was 
come  on  purpose  to  beg  the  favour  of  him  to  pay  me 
the  money  I  had  lent  him.  A  deadly  paleness  seized 
the  face  of  Zacharia  as  I  pronounced  these  words. 
"  How,  sir ! "  said  he,  "  withdraw  your  money  so 
soon?     Do  you  doubt  my  credit?     Does  any  rumour 


VANILLV  GONZALES.  287 

prevail   in   Madrid  injurious  to  the  house   of   Abel 
Zacharia  ?" 

"  No,  Don  Abel,"  I  replied,  "  you  always  take  too 
much  care  of  your  reputation  to  be  in  any  danger  of 
losing  it;  but  I  have  purchased  a  large  estate  in  the 
Asturias,  and  shall  want  all  my  money  to  pay  for  it." 

"  Oh !  that  is  another  matter,"  replied  Zacharia. 
"  I  only  wished  for  an  opportunity  to  oblige  you  ; 
and,  as  a  proof  of  it,  I  will,  in  the  course  of  the 
current  month,  remit  you  the  ten  thousand  pistoles, 
although  we  agreed,  as  you  will  recollect,  that  when 
you  wanted  it  you  was  to  give  me  three  months'  notice 
before  you  drew  it  out  of  my  hands." 

I  thanked  Abel  for  his  kind  accommodation  ;  and, 
to  give  the  spirit  of  my  father  repose,  immediately 
informed  him  of  my  success  ;  but,  by  an  answer  which 
he  instantly  returned,  he  convinced  me  how  impossible 
it  is  to  pacify  a  discontented,  avaricious,  and  jealous 
mind. 

Don  Marcos  here  finished  the  history  of  his  adven- 
tures. 

"  You  only  wait,  then,"  said  I,  "  for  the  repayment 
of  your  money  to  return  home.  The  moment  you 
receive  it,  farewell  Madrid  and  its  delights!" 

"  Yes,  Gonzales,"  replied  he,  "  to-morrow  I  shall  set 
off  on  my  return  to  my  lovely  Hortensia,  to  whom  I 
owe  the  happiness  of  my  life.  You  will  excuse,  I 
trust,  the  impatience  I  discover  to  see  her." 

"Your  impatience,"  said  I,  "appears  to  me  so 
natural,  that  I  cannot  but  applaud  it,  whatever  pain 
I  shall  feel  in  your  departure." 

We  saw  each  other  five  or  six  times  afterwards, 
but  at  length  the  day  of  reimbursement  arrived. 
We    embraced    with    tears    in   our   eyes.     "Adieu, 


288  THE  HISTORY  OF 

Vanillo,"  said  Girafa;  "perhaps  we  shall  hereafter 
meet  again;  chance  may  again  bring  us  together: 
but  if  we  are  doomed  to  eternal  separation,  let  us  at 
least  preserve  a  tender  recollection  of  our  friendship." 
Thus  ends  the  generality  of  coffee-house  con- 
nections :  The  parties,  though  they  meet  with  plea- 
sure, separate  with  regret,  and  forget  each  other 
without  difficulty. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  289 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

THE    PLEASURES     WHICH     VANILLO    GENERALLY   PURSUED 
DURING   HIS    RESIDENCE   AT  MADRID. 

TlIK  regret  I  felt  at  losing  the  company  of  Don 
Marcos  was  of  no  longer  duration  than  that  which  I 
felt  on  the  departure  of  Don  Ramirez.  Pleasure 
being  my  only  pursuit,  I  soon  formed  new  acquaint- 
ances. I  sometimes  visited  the  royal  levee,  and  at 
others  the  most  fashionable  coffee-houses  of  the 
metropolis,  where  I  was  generally  extremely  well 
amused.  Groups  of  new  faces  were  continually  pre- 
senting themselves  to  my  view,  from  which  I  could 
always  select  some  who  furnished  subjects  of  plea- 
santry and  mirth.  The  poets,  who  daily  frequented 
these  receptacles,  stunned  the  ears  of  the  company 
by  their  disputes  and  recitations;  they  even  fre- 
quently quarrelled  and  fought  with  each  other ; 
thereby  affording,  at  their  own  expense,  great  en- 
tertainment to  the  company. 

But  this  afforded  them  no  concern  ;  they  seemed, 
indeed,  to  take  a  delight  in  rendering  themselves 
ridiculous.  What  diverted  me  more  than  anvthinsr 
else  in  these  retreats,  was  to  hear  a  great  concourse 
of  people  all  talking  at  the  same  time;  some  dis- 
closing political  secrets,  others  detailing  adventures 
of  gallantry,  others  relating  comic  stories  ;  forming 
altogether  a  confusion  of  sounds  that  delighted  me. 
Sometimes,  however,  tired  with  this  disagreeable 
noise,  I  quitted  the  coffee-house  with  the  headache, 

T 


290  THE  HIST0R1   OF 

and  strolled  upon  the  Prado  to  dissipate  it.  Occa- 
sionally I  indulged  my  curiosity  at  the  audience- 
chamber  of  the  Count  de  Olivarez,  and,  mixing  in 
the  motley  group,  observed  with  attention  all  that 
passed.  Scenes  of  the  most  interesting  kind  were 
frequently  exhibited  to  my  view.  For  example,  the 
very  first  time  I  attended,  I  beheld  a  scene  which 
drew  from  me  a  flood  of  tears.  The  reader,  perhaps, 
will  not  be  displeased  to  learn  the  circumstances  of 
it ;  and  they  are  as  follows  : — 

A  venerable-looking  old  man,  with  a  long  white 
beard,  and  his  clothes  torn  almost  to  rags,  appeared 
in  the  ring  before  the  minister,  and  presented  to  him 
a  petition  which  he  held  in  his  hand. 

"  What  is  this  about,  good  man  ? "  inquired  the 
minister. 

"  My  lord,"  replied  the  bending  figure,  "  all  the 
prisons  of  Spain  have  been  opened  to  commemorate 
his  majesty's  accession  to  the  throne,  and  I  have 
been  released  from  mine  after  a  confinement  therein 
of  six-and-thirty  years." 

A  confused  murmur  ran  through  the  room  on  his 
pronouncing  these  words,  and  the  minister  himself, 
struck  with  astonishment,  inquired  of  him  the  cause 
of  so  long  a  captivity. 

"Alas!"  replied  the  old  man,  "I  am  qmte  igno- 
rant of  its  cause.  All  I  know  is,  that  six-and-thirty 
years  ago  I  was  made  a  prisoner  by  an  order  from 
the  king,  as  I  was  then  informed  by  those  who  took 
me;  and,  what  will  perhaps  surprise  your  Excel- 
lency, I  have  not,  during  that  long  period,  either 
undergone  any  examination,  or  been  suffered  to 
speak  to  any  human  being,  except  the  gaolers  who 
supplied   me  with  my  food;  and  they  informed  me 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  291 

that  they  were  forbidden  to  answer  any  question  I 
might  ask.  To  complete  my  miseries,"  continued 
he,  "  I  have  been  endeavouring  ever  since  my  dis- 
charge from  this  earthly  purgatory,  to  find  my 
family;  but,  alas!  my  family  are  not  now  to  be 
found.  I  had  a  father,  a  mother,  a  wife,  and  two 
children;  but  they  are  all  either  dead  or  lost.  I 
have  no  money;  and,  unless  you  take  pity  on  me,  I 
shall  be  reduced  to  beggary." 

The  surrounding  company,  moved  by  compassion, 
waited  in  painful  silence  the  minister's  reply;  who,  in 
mild  accents,  addressed  the  poor  supplicant  in  these 
terms :  "  Well,  my  friend,"  said  he,  "  what  is  the 
prayer  of  your  petition  ?" 

"  My  lord,"  rejoined  the  old  man,  "  I  humbly  sup- 
plicate your  Excellency  to  send«meback  immediately 
to  prison  ;  this  is  all  the  favour  I  can  now  require." 

"  I  perceive  the  meaning  of  your  request,"  replied 
the  minister  with  a  smile,  "and  your  wishes  shall  be 
gratified.  Go;  return  to  your  prison;  the  keeper 
shall,  by  ray  order,  provide  you  with  proper  cloth- 
ing, comfortable  linen,  a  clean  room,  a  daily  supply 
of  good  food,  and  permit  you  to  have  your  liberty 
whenever  you  please." 

The  room  rung  with  reiterations  of  applause  as 
the  Count  uttered  these  words.  But  this  was  not 
all.  His  Excellency's  humanity  was  not  satisfied 
by  converting  the  dungeon  of  this  miserable  man 
into  a  place  of  comfortable  repose ;  but  added  to  it  a 
suitable  pension,  as  a  means  of  making  him  forget 
six-and-thirty  years  of  misery  and  pain. 

The  minister,  who,  being  as  yet  in  the  infancy  of 
his  administration,  endeavoured  by  generous  acts  to 
obtain  the  good  opinion  of  the  public,  felt  the  highest 


292  THE  HISTORY  OF 

pleasure  at  the  popularity  he  had  acquired  by  his 
conduct  on  this  occasion;  but  the  sequel  of  his  life 
did  not  correspond  with  the  beginning-  of  it. 

As  to  the  old  prisoner,  it  is  well  known  that  from 
the  habits  of  confinement  he  made  so  little  use  of  the 
liberty  he  possessed,  as  seldom  to  stir  out  of  the 
prison-gates. 

The  coffee-house  at  which  I  had  become  ac- 
quainted with  Girafa  was  that  which  I  generally 
frequented ;  for,  besides  meeting  with  very  agree- 
able company  and  conversation,  I  was  sure  to  hear  of, 
or  to  see  some  entertaining  adventure.  One  now 
occurs  to  my  recollection. 

While  I  was  sitting  at  the  coffee-house,  two  officers 
in  the  army  entered  the  room.  The  figure  of  one  of 
them  caught  my  attention.  He  was  a  tall  man,  who, 
by  his  fierce  and  martial  air,  drew  on  himself  the 
notice  of  the  whole  room. 

"  Who  is  that  officer  ? "  said  I  softly  to  a  gentleman 
near  me. 

"  It  is,"  replied  he,  "  Don  Torribio  Truegno,  cap- 
tain of  those  royal  guards  called  Monteros,  and  is 
universally  considered  as  brave  a  man  as  any  in  the 
army :  he  has,  as  you  see,  a  warlike  air,  perfectly  cor- 
respondent to  his  fame.     Look  at  him  attentively." 

"  The  more  I  look  at  him,"  said  I,  "  the  more  I 
admire  him.  But  what  is  the  reason  of  his  wearing 
a  scarf  round  his  arm  ? " 

"  He  has  lately  received  a  wound,"  replied  the 
gentleman  with  a  smile,  "the  history  of  which  is 
rather  singular.  I  would  tell  it  you  if  he  were  not 
in  the  public  room." 

"  Come,  then,"  said  I,  "  let  us  retire  into  a  private 
apartmen'-  " 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  293 

I  accordingly  retired  with  the  gentleman  into  a 
small  parlour  on  the  right  hand,  where  he  related  to 
me  the  following  story  : — 

"  Don  Torribio  Truegno,  about  eight  days  ago, 
was  hunting  upon  the  plain  Guada'axara,  accom- 
panied by  two  subalterns  belonging  to  his  corps,  all 
of  them  well  mounted.  Riding  across  those  fields 
which  lie  between  Mondejar  and  Buendia,  a  little 
man,  with  grey  hairs,  and  mounted  on  a  scrubby 
pony,  addressed  himself  to  Truegno  with  great 
civility,  saying,  '  I  conjecture,  signor,  that  you  are  not 
conscious  of  being  now  upon  the  lands  of  a  gentle- 
man who,  always  keeping  himself  within  the  boun- 
daries of  his  own  domain  and  never  hunting  upon 
the  lands  of  others,  is  not  inclined  to  permit  others 
to  hunt  upon  his.' 

"  The  captain,  naturally  hasty  and  passionate,  eye- 
ing the  little  man  from  head  to  foot,  replied — 

"'Hidalgo,  do  you  know  to  whom  you  are  speak- 
ing  ? ' 

'"Yes,  sir,'  replied  the  little  gentleman,  '  I  know 
you  are  a  commander  of  the  Monteros  Guard,  and 
I  politely  request  that  you  will  no  longer  drive  over 
my ' 

"'How!'  interrupted  Torribio;  'you  intend  to 
threaten  me,  I  fancy,  by  making  this  request  so 
peremptorily;  and  if,  I  suppose,  I  do  not  choose 
to  change  my  course,  you  will  desire  me  to  meet 
you  sword   in  hand.' 

"'I  should  be  extremely  sorry  to  be  reduced  to 
that  necessity,'  replied  the  gentleman  ;  '  but  if  it  be 
necessary,  I  am  so  resolved.' 

"  The  captain,  at  these  words,  laughing  in  the  face 
of  his   antagonist,   replied,   with    an    air   of  raillery, 


294  THE  HISTORY  OF 

'  By  Heaven  !  my  little  friend,  I  should  be  curious 
to  see  how  you  handle  a  sword  ;  will  you  satisfy  my 
curiosity? ' 

"'With  all  my  heart,'  replied  the  old  gentleman; 
*  since  you  request  it  with  so  good  a  grace,  I  have 
not  the  least  objection  to  afford  you  the  satisfaction.' 

"In  pronouncing  these  words,  he  dismounted,  tied 
his  tit  to  a  dwarf  tree,  drew  his  sword,  and  presented 
himself  boldly  before  his  enemy ;  who,  conceiving 
he  should  gain  an  easy  victory,  placed  himself  care- 
lessly on  the  defensive,  as  if  he  were  ashamed  to 
contend  against  so  feeble  an  adversary. 

"  Matters,  however,  did  not  turn  out  much  in  favour 
of  Torribio.  The  little  gentleman,  who  was  a  fine 
fencer,  made  a  dexterous  lounge,  and  entered  the 
sword-arm  of  his  adversary  in  such  a  way,  that  the 
chief  of  the  Monteros,  finding,  from  his  wound,  it  was 
impossible  for  him  to  continue  the  combat,  galloped 
away  full  speed,  boiling  with  rage  and  vexation, 
towards  Madrid  ;  his  two  subalterns  following, 
and  laug-hinor  in  their  sleeves  at  this  tragi-comic 
adventure. 

"  Having  gone  about  two  hundred  |  yards  from 
the  field  of  battle,  he  met  a  Hidalgo  mounted  an 
a  mule. 

" '  Signor,'  said  he,  stopping  his  horse,  '  pray  in- 
form me  the  name  of  the  little  grey-headed  gentle- 
man who  resides  near  Mondejar.' 

"  '  Oh  !  I  know  who  you  mean,'  replied  the  Hidalgo  ; 
'  it  is  Don  Cesar  de  Peralta,  an  officer  who  has  served 
many  years  with  great  honour  in  the  army,  and 
who  now  reposes  at  his  villa  under  the  shade  of  his 
laurels.' 

"  Torribio,  upon  this  information,  seriously  debated 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  295 

tlie  matter  in  his  own  mind  ;  and  finding  that  he  had 
been  the  aggressor,  generously  resolved  to  seek  the 
friendship  of  Don  Cesar,  instead  of  again  provoking 
his  enmity  by  requiring  farther  satisfaction.  He 
accordingly  directed  his  two  subalterns  to  return, 
and  in  his  name  invite  Don  Peralta  to  dine  with  him 
on  the  ensuing  day  at  Madrid. 

"The  soldiers  discharged  their  commission,  and 
on  their  return  informed  Torribio  that  Don  Cesar 
would  certainly  wait  on  him. 

"  The  captain  related  the  adventure  to  three  general 
officers  of  his  acquaintance,  and  invited  them  to  the 
repast.  T*»hey  were  scarce  arrived  at  Torribio's  house 
when  they  discovered  Don  Cesar  de  Peralta  at  the 
door,  mounted  on  his  pony.  The  captain  hastened 
towards  him,  with  his  arm  in  the  scarf,  and  would 
willingly  have  held  the  stirrup  to  assist  him  to  alight. 
When  he  entered  the  room,  he  presented  him  to  the 
general  officers,  saying,  '  Permit  me  to  introduce  to 
your  acquaintance  Don  Cesar  de  Peralta,  my  con- 
queror. He  is  a  gentleman  who  possesses  a  peculiar 
talent  of  punishing  those  who  dare  to  hunt  on  his 
domain  without  his  permission.' 

"'Sir,'  replied  the  little  gentleman,  'you  have 
now  my  permission  to  hunt  there  whenever  you 
please/ 

" '  I  return  you  thanks  for  your  politeness,'  replied 
the  captain;  'but  I  have  another  favour  to  beg  ot 
you,  which  will  be  more  agreeable  :  it  is  your  friend- 
ship.    Grant  it  to  me,  and  accept  of  mine.' 

"Don  Cesar  replied  to  this  compliment  with  high 
and  finished  address;  and  these  two  violent  enemies 
are  now  become  the  most  cordial  friends," 


296  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

BY   WHAT  ACCIDENT,  AND   IN    WHAT  SITUATION,  VANILLO 

FOUND   BERNARDINA THE  CONVERSATION  THEY  HAD 

WITH     EACH     OTHER,      AND      THE    CONSEQUENCES    IT 
PRODUCED. 

RETURNING  quietly  to  my  hotel  one  evening,  after 
having  walked  a  long  time  in  the  delightful  meadows 
of  St.  Jerom,  I  heard,  as  I  passed  through  the  street 
which  leads  to  Toledo,  a  voice  from  a  window  dis- 
tinctly pronounce  my  name.  Stopping  short  to 
observe  the  person  who  had  called  to  me,  I  was  not 
a  little  surprised  to  discover  that  it  was  the  object  ot 
my  early  passion,  the  dissembling  Bernardina.  She 
appeared  equally  astonished  at  seeing  me  ;  and,  ex- 
pressing a  wish  to  converse  with  me,  desired  me  to 
walk  into  her  house. 

Being  curious  to  learn  the  particulars  of  her  pre- 
sent situation,  I  very  willingly  complied  with  her 
request.  The  door  was  opened  to  me  by  an  old 
woman  very  much  resembling  La  Papita,  and 
apparently  in  a  similar  employ.  She  introduced 
me  into  a  room  very  neatly  furnished,  where  I  was 
received  by  Bernardina  with  transports  of  joy,  and 
as  many  demonstrations  of  friendship,  as  if  she  had 
never  been  unfaithful. 

"  Oh  !  my  Vanillo,"  cried  she,  "  happy  fortune  bas 
again  united  us,  after  a  separation  of  seven  years. 
I  cannot  express  the  felicity  I  feel  on  seeing  you 
again.  But  tell  me,  my  friend,  what  are  you  doing 
at  Madrid  ?      Have  you  any  lucrative  appointment 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  297 

in   the  metropolis?     Are  you,  in  short,  in  a  happy 

and  contented  situation  ?  " 

I  did  not  think  it  quite  prudent  to  make  a  candid 
declaration  of  my  wealth  to  such  an  artful  hussy, 
lest  I  should  have  occasion  to  repent  it. 

On  the  contrary,  I  pretended  that  my  affairs  were 
in  so  low  and  ruinous  a  condition,  that  I  found  it 
very  difficult  to  live. 

"Is  this  possible?"  said  she.  "My  poor  Vanillo! 
what  a  pity  it  is  that  you  do  not  possess  an  ample 
fortune!  you  are  by  nature  generous.  I  have  not 
forgot  the  facility  with  which  you  lavished  your 
money  at  Salamanca." 

"I  remember  it  also,"  replied  I,  with  a  sarcastic 
smile  ;  "  nor  have  I  forgot  the  little  tricks  which  you 
played  me  upon  those  occasions." 

"  No  retrospection,  Vanillo,"  said  she,  very  seriously; 
"  draw  the  veil  of  oblivion  over  my  former  conduct ; 
I  have  reformed  my  manners,  and  have  now  only 
one  lover.  The  Count  de  Medellin  adores  me  ;  and, 
contented  to  please  him  alone,  I  reward  his  attach- 
ment with  inviolable  fidelity.  But,  between  our- 
selves," continued  she,  "he  merits  my  love.  His 
person  is  elegantly  fine,  his  conversation  sensible, 
his  manners  agreeable ;  and,  instead  of  imitating 
those  who  keep  their  mistresses  invisible  to  the 
world,  he  permits  me  to  enjoy  entire  liberty.  His 
friends,  who  consist  of  counts,  marquises,  and  dukes, 
visit  me  freely  without  suspicion ;  and,  under  his 
patronage  and  approbation,  I  have  established  in 
this  house  a  little  :5isricy  where  the  young  lords 
assemble  three  or  four  evenings  in  a  week  to  game 
and  sup." 

"  Pray  be  more  explicit  upon  this  subject,"  inter- 


298  THE  HISTORY  OP 

rupted  I  with  precipitation.  "  If  you  regale  those 
noble  visitors  at  your  own  expense,  your  purse  must 
be  richly  stored  ;  for  these  kinds  of  entertainments 
are  not  so  frugal  as  the  meals  of  an  anchorite." 

"  No,  certainly  they  are  not,"  replied  Bernardina; 
"  nor  do  I  pay  any  of  the  expense  ;  that  falls  upon 
my  noble  visitors ;  and  these  are  the  measures  I 
pursue  to  effect  this  purpose.  If,  for  instance,  there 
is  a  duke  or  a  marquis  in  company^  I  draw  them 
secretly  aside  one  after  the  other,  and  whisper, 
'  My  lord  duke — my  dear  marquis — do  you  sup 
here  to-night  ? '  These  noblemen,  who  perfectly 
understand  the  meaning  of  the  question,  answer 
'  Yes,'  and  respectively  accompany  the  monosyllable 
with  a  donation  of  three  or  four  doubloons.  This  cere- 
mony I  perform  alternately  with  every  visitor  in  the 
room,  and  though  all  contribute,  each  is  flattered  by 
the  idea  of  having  paid  the  whole  expense." 

"  I  must  confess,"  cried  I,  bursting  into  a  violent 
fit  of  laughter,  "that  this  is  a  new  and  ingenious 
artifice  to  raise  supplies.  I  suspect  it  was  your 
kind  aunt  who  suggested  these  ways  and  means." 

"You  are  right,"  replied  Bernardina;  "  this  is  the 
method  I  follow,  and  it  has  produced  me  consider- 
able profit.  But  a  propos  of  my  aunt,"  added  she, 
"you  have  not  once  inquired  about  her." 

"Well!"  replied  I,  with  as  much  anxiety  as  if 
I  had  really  felt  great  interest  in  her  welfare,  "tell 
me  then  what  is  become  of  your  dear  aunt;  inform 
me  of  her  present  situation." 

"  She  has  resided  these  three  years  at  Toledo  with 
the  Governor  of  Castile,"  replied  Bernardina;  "but 
the  connection  is  at  an  end,  and  she  is  now  about 
V »  return  to  Madrid." 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  299 

"  T  congratulate  you,"  replied  I ;  "  for  with  her 
assistance,  your  supper  revenues  will  greatly  in- 
crease, as  it  is  impossible  not  to  suppose  that  the 
charms  of  Signora  Dalfa  are  still  captivating." 

"She  is  still  amiable,"  replied  the  niece,  "al- 
though I  may  tell  you  in  confidence  that  her  beauty 
is  rather  faded.  Her  last  letters  informed  me  that 
she  discovers  every  morning  at  her  toilet  some 
decay ;  that  the  lively  lustre  of  her  early  youth 
disappears,  and  that  her  skin  is  becoming  brown 
and  pimpled." 

"  These  evils  are  not  without  remedy,"  said  I ; 
"  there  are  secrets  in  chemistry  by  which  the  com- 
plexion may  be  preserved.  I  am  acquainted  with 
an  apothecary  who  is  the  first  operator  in  the  world 
for  metamorphosing  the  black  and  wrinkled  face 
of  age  into  the  smooth  and  blooming  countenance 
of  early  youth." 

"  You  are  jocose,"  observed  Bernardina. 

"  Not  at  all,"  replied  I ;  "I  never  spoke  more 
seriously  in  all  my  life." 

"  Oh  !  my  dear  Vanillo  !  "  exclaimed  Bernardina 
with  rapture,  "if  this  be  really  true,  tell  me  directly 
the  name  and  abode  of  this  great  man." 

"You  know  him  already/'  replied  I;  "turn  your 
eyes  and  you  will  find  him  now  sitting  by  your  side." 

'*  What  do  I  hear  ?  "  exclaimed  she  with  extreme 
surprise.  "How!  What!  is  it  you  who  possess  this 
important  secret  ?  I  cannot  believe  you  ;  but  if  you 
do,  you  may  soon  acquire  a  greater  fortune  than 
any  Indian  go/^rnor  ever  possessed." 

To  obtain  some  credit  with  Bernardina  I  was 
obliged  to  recount  to  her  my  adventures  in  Italy, 
and  to  detail  why  and  wherefore  I  became  an  apo- 


300  THE  HISTORY  OF 

thecary.  I  amplified  on  the  surprising  properties 
of  the  lotion  and  ointment,  which  the  greatest  chemist, 
Potoschi,  my  master,  had  invented,  and  taught  me 
to  compound.  Bernardina  listened  to  my  discourse 
with  interested  attention;  and  she  admired  particu- 
larly what  related  to  the  Baroness  de  Conca,  and 
Donna  Blanch  de  Sorba,  her  mother ;  and  could 
not  comprehend  how  those  ladies,  such  as  I  have 
described  them,  with  pimpled  skins  and  dark  com- 
plexions, could  appear  fairer  than  the  day  by  using 
the  revivers  of  the  great  Potoschi. 

"  Gonzales,  my  dear  friend,"  said  she,  "  I  consider 
you  as  an  angel  sent  from  heaven.  I  implore  your 
succour  for  my  distressed  aunt ;  her  niece  also  will 
soon  want  your  assistance.  Let  me  conjure  you,  by 
our  former  friendship,  to  teach  me  this  invaluable 
secret." 

"  My  lovely  Bernardina,"  said  I,  "  you  shall  be 
satisfied.  I  will  purchase,  early  in  the  morning,  the 
various  ingredients  for  these  compositions,  and  we  will 
make  a  trial  of  their  effects  the  moment  your  aunt 
arrives." 

"  I  will  write  to  her  immediately,"  cried  Bernardina, 
"  to  inform  her  of  the  particulars  of  our  conversation  ; 
and  I  have  no  doubt  but  my  letter  will  hasten  her 
departure  for  Madrid." 

After  this  conversation  I  took  my  leave  of  Bernar- 
dina ;  and  assuring  her  that  she  should  see  me  ag^ain 
in  three  days,  I  returned  to  my  hotel. 

The  ensuing  morning  I  provided  the  ingredients 
necessary  to  make  the  compounds,  and  by  working 
incessantly  for  two  whole  days  in  my  own  room, 
which  I  converted  into  a  laboratory,  produced,  on  the 
third,  a  sufficient  quantity  both  of  the  ointment  and 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  301 

the  lotion,  which  I  carried  in  the  evening  to  the  house 
of  Bernardina,  who  could  not  help  smiling  when  she 
saw  me. 

"My  aunt  is  in  Madrid!"  exclaimed  she.  "An 
hour  after  the  receipt  of  my  letter  she  set  off  with  the 
muleteers,  and  is  just  arrived ,  but,  being  fatigued 
with  her  journey,  I  have  persuaded  her  to  go  to  bed. 
Let  us  leave  her  to  her  rest  for  a  short  time.  I  told 
you,"  continued  she  with  a  laugh,  "  that  my  letter 
would  hasten  her  departure.  The  interests  of  beauty 
are,  I  confess,  very  dear  to  the  sex  ;  and  I  do  not 
think  there  is  a  woman  existing  who  would  not  travel 
five  hundred  miles  to  improve  her  charms." 

Entertaining  ourselves  for  some  time  upon  this 
subject  with  great  pleasantry,  I  at  length  asked  Ber- 
nardina if  her  aunt's  beauty  was  really  impaired. 

"You  must  judge  of  that  for  yourself,"  said  she; 
"but  in  my  opinion  her  charms  appear  consider- 
ably decreased  ;  and,  between  ourselves,  I  fancy  this 
was  the  real  reason  that  induced  the  Governor 
of  Castile  to  break  the  connection.  Happily  for 
her,  Heaven  has  sent  a  restorer  of  charms  injured 
by  the  ravages  of  time  ;  she  will,  under  your  hands, 
regenerate  ;  you  will  render  her  more  amiable  than 
ever." 

"  She  may  expect  as  much,"  replied  I ;  "  for,  consi- 
dering my  success  with  the  Baroness  and  her  mother, 
I  need  not  despair  of  beautifying  any  face.  They 
were  in  pitris  naturalibus  two  ugly  monsters,  and  I 
converted  them  into  beautiful  angels." 

"  Ah !  Vanillo,"  said  Bernardina,  transported  by 
the  pleasure  my  conversation  afforded  her,  "  you  are 
a  wonderful  man.  How  happy  am  I  in  thus  seeing 
you  again  !     When  you  have  restored  my  aunt  to  all 


302  THE  HISTORY  OF 

the  charms  she  has  lost,  you  shall  teach  me  the  art  of 
preserving  the  appearance  of  eternal  youth." 

"  Ah  !  dissembler,"  cried  I  ;  "it  will  be  long  before 
you  require  assistance," 

"  I  may  do  without  assistance  some  few  years, 
perhaps,"  replied  Bernardina  ;  "  but  time  flies  with 
so  swift  a  wing,  that  one  cannot  too  cautiously 
prevent  the  ravages  of  his  scythe." 

While  I  was  enjoying  the  pleasures  of  a  lively 
conversation  in  this  way  with  Bernardina,  her  aunt, 
having  taken  her  nap,  awoke.  No  sooner  did  she 
hear  that  I  was  in  the  house,  than  she  instantly  arose, 
and,  hastily  slipping  on  a  robe-df.-chambre,  descended 
into  the  room.  The  moment  she  beheld  me  she 
approached  me  with  an  eager  air,  and  honouring  me 
with  an  embrace — 

"  Signor  Vanillo,"  said  she,  "  I  participate  with  my 
niece  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  again.  But  tell  me 
sincerely,  can  I  give  credit  to  the  astonishing  power 
which  her  letter  informs  me  you  possess  ?  " 

"  She  has  told  you  nothing  but  the  truth,  and  to- 
morrow all  your  doubts  will  vanish." 

"  Whatever  confidence  I  may  place  in  you,"  replied 
she,  "  I  fear  you  will  never  be  able  to  restore  me  to 
the  state  in  which  you  saw  me  at  Salamanca :  to 
perform  that,  it  is  necessary  you  should  possess 
supernatural  power.  Examine  me  attentively,"  con- 
tinued she  ;  "  am  I  not  frightful  ?  " 

"  That  you  can  never  be,"  replied  I ;  "  Nature  has 
lavished  on  you  such  a  profusion  of  charms,  that 
whole  ages  cannot  rob  you  of  them  all:  your 
beaut}',  it  is  true,  is  not  so  striking  as  it  was  when 
you  carried  away  every  heart  in  the  university. 
However,    madam,"   continued    I,    "it    is   a   happy 


I 


■/!;'  M 


lit  Smug 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  303 

circumstance  for  you  that  I  am  empowered,  by  a 
certain  chemical  preparation,  to  recall  the  youthful 
bloom  and  graceful  beauty  which  shone  upon  your 
countenance  at  that  early  period." 

I  accordingly  drew  from  my  pocket,  as  I  pro- 
nounced these  words,  a  phial  and  a  pot,  and  pre- 
senting them  to  her — 

"  There,  madam,"  said  I,  "  is  the  lotion  and  the 
ointment  of  the  celebrated  Potoschi.  You  have  only 
to  wash  and  rub  your  skin  with  them  for  one  hour 
this  evening,  immediately  before  you  retire  to  rest, 
and  in  the  morning  you  will  perceive  the  effect." 

Signora  Dalfa  received  my  compositions  with 
mingled  hopes  and  fears ;  for,  notwithstanding  all 
my  assurance,  a  secret  distrust  lurked  in  her  mind, 
and  damped  the  idea  of  those  pleasures  I  had  led  her 
to  expect.  Her  impatience,  however,  to  try  the  effect 
of  my  prescription  was  so  great,  that  she  retired 
before  it  was  dark  to  her  chamber,  when,  by  the 
assistance  of  her  confidential  maid,  she  washed  and 
rubbed  herself  for  three  or  four  hours,  and  then, 
according  to  my  recommendation,  went  to  bed,  but 
found  it  not  an  easy  matter  to  procure  repose. 

Sleep,  however,  at  length  closed  her  eyes,  and 
enabled  her  to  taste  her  happiness  in  dreams  until 
the  return  of  day  ;  when,  waking  \\  ith  a  start,  and 
yielding  to  the  curiosity  which  disturbed  her  pillow, 
she  flew  to  her  toilet,  and  discovered  in  it  a  figure 
so  transformed  from  what  it  was,  that  she  scarcely 
recollected  her  own  face.  Calling  her  servant,  "  Bea- 
trice," said  she,  "  come  here  directly  ;  come  and  con- 
template the  beauties  c,(  youth." 

Beatrice,  to  make  more  haste,  ran  half  undressed 
to  her  mistress,  and,  looking  at  her  steadfastly,  ex- 


304  THE  HISTORY  OF 

claimed,  "  Good  Heavens  !  what  is  it  I  behold  ?  Yen 
have  the  complexion  of  a  girl  of  fifteen  !  Signor 
Gonzales  must  certainly  be  something  more  than  a 
sorcerer  to  have  made  vou  thus  young-  again.  I  will 
carrv  the  news  directlv  to  Madam  Bernardina." 

"Yes,  Beatrice,"  exclaimed  Signora  Dalfa,  "go  and 
announce  this  prodigy  to  her;  she  ought  not  to  be 
less  delighted  with  it  than  myself." 

The  maid  ran  and  awakened  Bernardina.  "  Come," 
said  she  with  glee,  "come  and  see  my  mistress,  your 
aunt.  By  St.  Apollo,  you  will  not  know  her;  she  is 
now  as  brilliant  as  a  star." 

Bernardina  immediately  arose,  and  went  into  the 
chamber  of  her  aunt  ;  who,  still  at  her  toilet,  added 
to  the  effects  of  my  composition  all  the  powers  whics 
the  arts  of  accomplished  coquetry  could  bestow. 
"My  dear  aunt !  "  exclaimed  she,  drawing  back  with 
surprise,  "  is  it  you  that  I  behold  ?  What  charms  ! 
This  transformation  will  excite  my  jealousy ;  I 
shall  now  no  longer  share  with  you  the  public 
admiration." 

"  Do  not  joke,  my  dear  niece,"  replied  Signora 
Dalfa,  seriously  ;  "  but  tell  me  sincerely  how  I  look." 

"  Ravishingly,"  replied  Bernardina  ;  "  you  have 
regained  all  the  graces  of  your  early  youth.  Vanillo 
has  taken  from  you  fifteen  good  years  at  least." 

Just  at  this  period  of  their  conversation  I  entered 
the  room  ;  for  I  was  too  imoatient  to  learn  the  success 
of  my  composition  any  longer  to  delay  inquiry. 

"  Incomparable  chemist  1  "  exclaimed  the  aunt  the 
moment  she  saw  me,  "  I  have  been  waiting  to  pay 
those  acknowledgments  to  you  that  are  so  much 
your  due.  I  cannot  sufficient?  /  testify  the  gratitude 
of  my  heart."     At  the  same   time,  to  show  me  how 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  305 

sensibly  she  felt  the  services  I  had  rendered  her,  she 
embraced  me  with  a  warmth  and  tenderness  I  had 
never  before  experienced ;  and  her  lovely  niece 
followed  her  example,  saying,  "  My  aunt  thanks  you 
for  the  favour  you  have  already  conferred  on  her, 
and  I  thank  you  by  anticipation  for  those  you  are 
to  perform  for  me  ;  for  you  must  not  forget  that 
you  have  promised  to  reveal  to  me  this  important 
secret." 

"  I  repeat  my  promise,"  replied  I.  "You  shall  soon 
be  as  wise  upon  this  subject  as  I  am  myself." 

"But,  Vanillo,"  said  the  delighted  widow,  "you 
seem  not  to  know  the  value  of  the  treasure  you 
possess.  Do  you  recollect  that  you  may  gain  an 
immense  fortune  by  secretly  selling  these  curious 
compositions?  Leave  the  care  of  collecting  cus- 
tomers to  us;  we  will  furnish  you  with  them  in  great 
abundance.  Why  should  you  bury  this  useful  talent  ? 
Is  it  not  more  advisable  to  render  it  profitable  ?  " 

"  My  aunt  is  right,"  interposed  Bernardina.  "You 
must  be  an  enemy  to  your  own  interest  if,  having  the 
means  so  easily  in  your  power,  you  refuse  to  enrich 
yourself.  It  depends  entirely  upon  yourself  to  be- 
come, in  a  short  time,  a  man  of  fortune.  The  im- 
provement of  a  few  fashionable  faces*  will  circulate 
your -fame;  and  the  moment  you  are  in  vogue,  gold 
will  be  showered  upon  you  from  all  quarters.  Ex- 
clusive of  the  number  of  old  dowagers  by  whom  you 
will  be  oppressed,  superannuated  gallants  will  pester 
you  with  purses  in  their  hands,  and  implore  you  to 
rid  them  of  their  wrinkles.  In  short,  you  will  im- 
mediately make  an  immense  fortune  without  being 
obliged  to  anybody." 

These  syrens  charmed  my  mind  by  these  pleasing 

U 


3o6  THE  HISTORY  OF 

prospects  to  such  a  degree,  that  they  inflamed  my 
heart  with  avarice.  I  felt  my  bosom  glow  with  an 
affection  for  riches.  I  had  hitherto  only  loved  money 
from  a  report  of  its  utility ;  but  I  now  began  to  love 
the  thing  itself,  and  to  forget  its  use,  and  I  experi- 
enced all  the  delights  which  misers  feel  in  the  posses- 
sion of  their  gold.  If  I  had  been  at  this  moment  in 
my  closet  alone,  I  verily  believe  I  should  have  kissed 
'my  ducats  one  after  the  other,  from  pure  admiration 
of  their  matter  and  form. 

The  frame  of  mind  which  the  exhortations  of 
Bernardina  and  her  aunt  had  produced  disposed  me 
to  follow  their  advice. 

"  Ladies,"  said  I,  "the  conflict  is  over;  it  is  settled; 
I  have  determined  to  adopt  your  scheme.  I  will 
instantly  provide  a  large  quantity  of  my  lotion  and 
pomade,  and  in  the  meantime  you  will  discover  those 
rich  dowagers  who  may  want  them." 

"Go,  go,"  said  Bernardina,  "leave  the  rest  to  us; 
we  will  find  them  out.  The  desire  which  you  know 
all  women  have  to  look  handsome,  ought  to  convince 
you  that  there  is  no  danger  of  our  success." 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  307 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

VANILLO  SELLS  HIS  LOTION  AND  OINTMENT,  GAINS  A 
LARGE  SUM  OF  MONEY,  AND  BECOMES  MISERLY  IN 
PROPORTION  AS    HE   GROWS   RICH. 

COMMENCING  my  operations  in  chemistry  by  con- 
verting my  bedroom  into  a  laboratory,  and  by  fur- 
nishing it  with  a  number  of  phials  and  pots,  I  employed 
three  days  and  three  nights  in  distilling,  through  an 
alembic,  the  juices  of  various  plants  proper  for  my 
purpose,  and  having  prepared  cosmetic  sufficient  tc 
produce  at  least  twenty  transformations,  I  repaired  to 
the  residence  of  my  coadjutors  to  inform  them  that  I 
only  waited  for  the  patients  they  had  promised  to 
procure. 

"  You  shall  not  want  customers,"  said  Signora 
Dalfa ;  "  we  are  already  prepared  to  place  two  under 
your  hands  ;  one  is  a  Countess,  who  has  lately  lost, 
what  she  is  most  fond  of,  the  public  admiration  ;  the 
other  is  a  devotee,  the  wife  of  an  Alcade,  who  is 
anxious  to  fix  the  wavering  affections  of  her  husband. 
Go,"  continued  she,  putting  a  paper  with  their  respec- 
tive addresses  into  my  hand  ;  "  go  and  visit  these 
patients;  ask  to  speak  with  their  waiting-maids,  who 
have  received  orders  to  conduct  you  privately  to  their 
mistresses'  apartments." 

Impatient  to  levy  on  the  old  ladies  the  projected 
contributions,  I  went  immediately  to  the  house  of  the 
Countess,  whose  servant  introduced  me,  saying, "  This, 
madam,  is  the  celebrated  chemist  who  has  discovered 
the  art  of  repairing  *he  injuries  of  time." 


3oS  THE  HISTORY  OF 

"Alas!"  said  the  Countess,  with  a  sigh,  "I  doubt 
whether  all  his  art  will  be  able  to  give  me  a  face  that 
will  be  pleasing  to  the  eye  of  the  world." 

"  O  madam,"  replied  I,  in  the  language  of  quackery, 
"you  do  injustice  to  yourself;  you  have  less  cause  to 
complain  of  the  effects  of  time  than  you  imagine  ;  it 
has  only  faded  your  complexion  and  concealed  your 
beauty,  and,  when  the  veil  is  removed,  it  will  again 
beam  forth  in  pristine  lustre.  The  lotion  is  principally 
intended  to  recall  departed  bloom.  I  can  also  assure 
you  that  it  possesses  another  admirable  quality ;  which 
is,  that  it  operates  its  effect  in  one  night.  A  lady 
who  retires  to  rest  with  the  wrinkles  of  age  may  rise 
the  next  morning  with  a  face  as  smooth  as  glass." 

"  Ha  !  what  is  it  you  say  ?  "  interrupted  the  Countess 
with  precipitation.  "  If  you  really  possess  this  valu- 
able secret,  tell  me  directly  how  I  must  use  it ;  in 
boasting  its  excellence  you  provoke  my  impatience 
to  try  it." 

I  accordingly  gave  the  Countess  the  proper  direc- 
tion?, and,  presenting  her  with  a  phial  and  a  pot, 
quitted  the  room,  telling  her  that  I  should  return  in 
the  morning,  confident  of  finding  her  changed  from 
black  to  white. 

From  the  house  of  the  Countess  1  proceeded  to 
that  of  the  Alcade,  whose  pious  wife  \"as  inclined  to 
become  my  patient.  On  my  arrival  I  asked  for  an 
old  waiting-maid,  whose  name  was  written  on  my 
paper.  She  soon  appeared  ;  and,  when  she  heard 
me  say  that  I  had  something  to  communicate  to  her 
mistress,  she  replied,  with  a  smile — 

"  I  guess  who  you  are;  you  are  welcome;  you  are 
Called  for  here  with  heart  and  voice  : "  and  at  the 
same  time  she  conducted  me  by  a  private  staircase  to 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  309 

the  apartments  of  her  mistress,  who  received  me  very 
graciously. 

This  lady,  who  in  her  early  youth  had  possessed 
an  extraordinary  share  of  beauty,  still  possessed  suffi- 
cient to  content  any  reasonable  husband.  I  therefore 
addressed  myself  to  her  in  these  terms: 

"  I  doubt,  madam,  whether  I  am  right  in  waiting 
upon  you  ;  for,  although  some  of  your  personal  charms 
are  flown,  you  still  retain  so  many  others  that  you 
cannot  want  my  assistance  to  increase  the  number  of 
your  admirers." 

"  You  are  very  much  deceived,"  replied  she,  "  if  you 
conceive  that  I  wish  to  increase  my  beauties  in  order 
to  increase  the  number  of  my  admirers  :  my  only 
wish  is  to  render  myself  pleasing  to  my  husband. 
This,  perhaps,  will  appear  very  extraordinary  to  you  ; 
but  it  is  the  truth.  I  love  my  husband,  and  would 
not  wish  to  improve  my  beauty  if  it  were  not  to 
render  myself  more  agreeable  to  him  and  to  regain 
his  heart." 

"Then  I  understand  by  this,  madam,"  replied  I, 
"that  your  husband  is  devoted  to  gallantry." 

"  It  is,  I  confess,  his  foible,"  replied  the  Alcade's 
wife;  "let  us  unite  our  efforts  to  reclaim  him.  In- 
crease, if  it  be  possible,  the  virtue  of  your  applica- 
tion. In  short,  render  me  so  charmingly  beautiful  that 
he  may  never  be  tempted  to  swerve  from  his  duty." 

I  instructed  the  Alcade's  wife,  while  I  presented 
her  with  a  phial  and  a  pot,  how  my  lotion  and  pomade 
were  to  be  used,  and  bid  her  adieu  until  the  same  hour 
the  ensuing  morning. 

This  lady,  I  have  been  since  informed,  was  more 
impatient  even  than  the  Countess  to  experience  the 
effects  of  my  compounds;  and,  without  waiting  until 


3io  THE  HISTORY  OF 

it  was  night,  rubbed  herself  all  over  with  both  the 
restoratives,  and  going  to  bed,  gave  orders  that  she 
might  be  left  undisturbed  to  her  repose. 

Rising  the  ensuing  morning  with  anxious  curiosity 
to  learn  whether  my  two  patients  would  receive  me 
with  compliments  or  reproaches,  I  first  visited  the 
Countess,  whom  I  fouwd  at  her  toilet;  her  maid 
looking  at  her  with  the  eye  of  admiration,  and  prais- 
ing her  new-blown  beauties  to  the  skies. 

"  Approach,  learned  Doctor,"  cried  she  with  joy 
and  satisfaction  ;  "approach  and  receive  your  merited 
applause." 

"  I  rejoice,  madam,"  replied  I,  "  to  find  you  so  con- 
tented with  my  remedies." 

"How!  contented!"  replied  she;  "rather  say  en- 
chanted. Already  had  I  renounced  the  company  of 
youth,  and  abandoned  all  places  of  public  resort ;  but 
I  may  now  indulge  the  pleasing  hope  of  appearing  in 
the  world  once  more,  and  of  renewing  all  the  plea- 
sures I  have  relinquished." 

"  You  may,  madam,"  replied  I,  "  boldly  resume 
your  station  in  the  world  ;  you  will  no  longer  be  over- 
looked in  the  circles  of  the  gay,  and  I  am  certain  that 
every  gentleman  of  true  taste  will  welcome  your  return 
with  pleasure." 

"  You  are  a  flatterer,  Doctor,"  replied  the  Countess; 
"  but  when  you  speak  in  this  style,  you  rather  resound 
the  praises  of  your  own  art  than  of  my  beauty.  But 
however  that  may  be,  the  services  you  have  rendered 
cannot  be  too  amply  rewarded.  Here  is  a  purse  con- 
taining fifty  doubloons,  by  which  I  merely  pay  for  the 
pot  and  phial;  for  my  gratitude  shall  not  end  here,  if 
you  will  take  care  to  preserve  the  beauty  you  have  so 
successfully  restored." 


VANILLO  GONZALES. 


3" 


This  dialogue,  the  latter  part  of  which  was  most 
pleasing  to  me,  being  concluded,  I  retired,  as  well 
satisfied  with  the  Countess  as  she  was  with  me.  Never, 
indeed,  having  before  received  so  large  a  bounty,  I 
began  to  think  that  the  lovely  widow  and  her  charm- 
ing niece  had  induced  me  to  adopt  no  unprofitable 
employment. 

As  I  seemed  to  be  in  the  train  of  touching  the  cash, 
I  went  directly  to  the  house  of  the  Alcade's  wife,  who 
afforded  me  a  very  gracious  reception.  This  lady  had 
just  risen  from  her  toilet,  with  joy  sparkling  in  her 
eyes. 

"Madam,"  said  I,  "there  is  an  air  of  satisfaction  in 
your  countenance,  from  whence  I  draw  the  most  aus- 
picious conclusions.  Appearances  must  be  extremely 
deceitful  indeed  if  you  are  not  contented  with  my  pre- 
scriptions. Your  beauty  seems  improved  to  the  full 
extent  of  your  wishes." 

"  I  have,"  replied  she,  "  attained  the  summit  of  my 
wishes.  Your  compounds  have  done  wonders,"  added 
she,  laughing  with  all  her  force.  "  I  must  relate  the 
circumstance  to  you.  My  husband  used  sometimes 
to  visit  my  chamber,  but  it  was  generally  with  the 
coldness  of  indifference,  scarcely  deigning  to  look  at 
me,  or,  if  he  looked,  it  was  with  a  disregard  which 
wounded  both  my  tenderness  and  vanity.  This  morn- 
ing he  repeated  his  visit;  the  change  he  immediately 
observed  in  my  charms  awakened  his  sleeping  affec- 
tion ;  and,  caressing  me  with  his  former  fondness,  he 
lavished  the  warmest  praises  on  my  reviving  beauty." 

In  pronouncing  these  words  she  burst  into  a  laugh 
of  ecstatic  pleasure,  which  I  enviously  wished  to  accom- 
pany;  but,  the  more  perfectly  to  act  the  doctor's  part, 
I  carefully  preserved  my  gravity. 


3i2  THE  HISTORY  OF 

Having  indulged  her  laugh,  she  resumed  a  serious 
countenance.  "  Incomparable  chemist,"  said  she,  "  do 
not  stop  here,  but  employ  whatever  is  most  powerful 
and  efficacious  in  your  art  to  preserve  the  charms 
your  art  has  given  me.  You  have  performed  a 
miracle  in  warming  the  cold  bosom  of  my  husband  ; 
but  you  will  perform  a  still  greater,  if  you  can  render 
me  sufficiently  amiable  to  fix  his  desires." 

"  Madam,"  replied  I,  "  the  achievement  is  by  no 
means  easy,  but  I  do  not  think  it  impossible." 

"  Really !  "  exclaimed  she.  "  Oh  !  if  you  can  ac- 
complish this  point  I  shall  reward  your  services  with 
liberality." 

The  tone  of  voice  in  which  she  pronounced  these 
words  persuaded  me  I  might  rely  on  her  promise  ; 
and,  to  give  her  words  still  greater  energy,  she 
accompanied  them  with  a  rich  diamond  ring,  which 
she  put  on  my  finger,  saying,  "  Take  that  as  a  small 
proof  of  my  intended  gratitude."  I  retired  from  the 
house  of  the  Alcade  with  equal  satisfaction  as  from 
that  of  the  Countess,  fully  convinced  that  the  ring 
could  not  be  worth  less  than  a  hundred  pistoles.  To 
be  more  certain,  however,  I  showed  it  to  an  old 
jeweller,  whose  shop  was  near,  and  who,  after  exa- 
mining it  for  a  long  time,  asked  me  whether  it  was 
to  be  sold.  "  No,"  replied  I,  "  the  owner  only  wishes 
to  be  informed  of  its  value." 

"  If  the  owner,"  replied  the  jeweller,  "  chooses  to 
part  with  it,  I  will  give  him  five  hundred  pistoles." 

Perfectly  satisfied  with  his  appreciation,  I  thanked 
the  jeweller,  and  returned  gaily  home,  saying, 
"  Courage,  Master  Chemist,  this  is  a  good  morning's 
work  ;  if  you  continue  to  have  many  more  such,  you 
will  soon  grow  rich." 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  313 

The  moment  I  returned  home  I  shut  myself  up  in 
my  laboratory,  opened  my  strong  box,  that  is,  the 
portmanteau  which  contained  my  wealth,  and  put  into 
it  the  Countess's  purse,  saying  with  as  affectionate  a 
voice  as  if  I  had  been  speaking  to  a  beloved  mistress, 
"  Go,  my  brilliant  friends,  thou  dear  and  charming 
rewards  of  my  chemic  labours  ;  go  and  accompany  the 
ducats  of  my  uncle ;  for  they  are  your  near  relations." 

Seriously,  if  any  person  had  overheard  the  ridicu- 
lous conversation  I  held  with  my  gold,  they  would 
have  taken  me  for  a  madman.  But  I  was  in  fact 
troubled  with  the  Demon  of  Avarice,  and  I  reckoned 
that  my  lotion  and  pomade  would  soon  acquire  me 
great  fame,  and  produce  a  large  fortune,  which  I 
computed  incessantly  according  to  the  inclination  of 
my  avaricious  imagination,  without  once  reflecting 
that  I  was  deceiving  myself  by  my  calculation. 

I  went  in  the  afternoon  to  return  my  thanks  to 
Signora  Dalfa  and  her  niece  for  the  two  excellent 
patients  they  had  recommended  to  me. 

"We  have  others  ready  for  you,"  said  Bernard ina. 
"An  old  and  opulent  Marchioness,  whose  visage  is 
really  become  frightful  from  the  lapse  of  time,  waits 
the  arrival  of  a  young  Italian  Count,  who  is  coming 
to  Madrid  on  purpose  to  marry  her.  They  have 
never  seen  each  other.  The  Count  is  apprised  that 
the  Marchioness  is  not  handsome ;  but  this  is  no 
impediment  on  his  part,  for  the  pockets  of  the  widow 
are  lined  with  gold.  The  lady,  however,  notwith- 
standing the  reliance  she  places  in  her  riches,  appre- 
hends that  the  Count,  when  he  sees  her,  may  be 
inclined  to  break  off  the  match.  My  aunt  and  I 
have  recommended  her  to  you,  and  our  description 
of  your  profound  science  has  excited  her  curiosity. 


314  THE  HISTORY  OF 

Here  is  her  address,"  added  she,  giving  trie  a  sWp 
of  paper,  "and  the  name  of  the  maid  to  whom  you 
must  address  yourself:  go  and  pay  her  a  visit  im- 
mediately." 

I  went  without  loss  of  time  to  the  house  of  the 
Marchioness  ;  and  I  was  never,  in  the  whole  course 
of  my  life,  so  astonished  as  when,  on  entering  the 
room,  I  perceived,  reclining  on  a  sofa,  a  diminutive 
female,  with  brown  complexion,  blear  eyes,  and  full 
of  wrinkles.  I  could  not  believe  that  this  was  the 
person  for  whom  an  Italian  Count  was  quitting  his 
country  to  marry  and  live  with  at  Madrid.  But  she 
soon  removed  all  doubt  from  my  mind. 

"Doctor,"  said  she,  "  pray  examine  me  with  great 
attention,  and  tell  me  what  you  think  of  my  beauty. 
Do  not  you  think  the  young  cavalier,  who  is  coming 
so  far  for  my  sake,  will  be  well  rewarded  for  his 
trouble  ? " 

I  was  quite  confounded  by  this  address,  for  I  had 
never  before  known  a  single  instance  of  a  woman 
turning  her  own  person  into  ridicule. 

The  Marchioness,  although  nearly  sixty  years  of 
age,  was,  it  is  true,  much  more  injured  by  ugliness 
than  by  age;  and  I  could  willingly  have  applauded 
her  pleasantry,  but  that  I  was  too  polite  to  take 
such  a  liberty,  and  besides  it  might  not  have  been 
very  agreeable  to  her  inclination. 

"Madam,"  said  I,  "it  is  true  that,  in  your  present 
situation,  I  would  not  advise  you  to  contend  with 
the  three  Goddesses  for  the  apple  of  Love ;  but, 
without  employing  supernatural  powers,  or  even  the 
utmost  extent  of  human  art,  I  think  you  may  be  so 
improved  that  your  husband  shall  have  reason  to 
boa^t  of  having  an  amiable  wife." 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  315 

The  Marchioness,  at  these  words,  immediately 
burst  into  a  roar  of  laughter,  and,  still  seeming  to 
joke  at  her  own  expense,  said — 

"  My  good  Doctor,  I  have  no  doubt  of  your  great 
abilities,  but  I  can  never  believe  them  sufficient  to 
render  my  person  pleasing.  Prevent  it  from  being 
despised,  and  I  shall  be  perfectly  contented." 

"Madam,"  replied  I,  with  an  air  of  confidence,  "I 
will  do  much  more :  I  assure  you,  that  to-morrow 
morning,  when  you  look  in  your  glass,  you  will  be, 
like  Narcissus,  charmed  with  the  view  of  your  own 
image." 

The  Marchioness  again  burst  into  a  fit  of  laughter, 
replying,  "  You  are  a  bold  man,  Doctor,  to  undertake 
this  task;  and  I  think  I  may  defy  you,  with  all  your 
drugs,  your  washes,  your  ointments,  and  your  lotions, 
to  accomplish  your  promise.  I  have  no  objection, 
however,"  continued  she,  "  to  try  the  experiment ; 
but  I  consent  rather  to  undeceive  you  than  from  any 
hope  I  entertain  of  becoming  an  agreeable  woman  ; 
and  besides,  I  must  annex  a  condition  to  my  consent, 
that  you  will  not,  upon  your  word  of  honour,  tell  any 
person  that  I  have  been  foolish  enough  to  follow 
your  directions  under  the  flattering  idea  you  can 
render  me  handsome  in  spite  of  nature." 

I  gave  her  accordingly  a  sacred  promise  to  this 
effect,  and,  leaving  her  a  phial  and  pot,  with  par- 
ticular direction  to  rub  herself  well  with  their  con- 
tents, took  my  leave. 

I  must  confess  that  upon  this  occasion  I  trembled 
for  the  success  of  my  prescriptions,  notwithstanding 
all  the  experience  I  had  had  of  their  uncommon 
powers.  Their  operation  could  not  be  unbounded  ; 
and  as  the  extraordinary  case  in  which  they  were 


316  THE-  HISTORY  OF 

now  applied  certainly  justified  my  fears,  I  passed  an 
interval  of  anxious  inquietude  until  I  returned  the 
ensuing  morning  to  the  house  of  the  Marchioness, 
whom  I  had  the  pleasure  to  find  rejuvenated  by  at 
least  twenty  years,  and  so  finely  embellished  by 
dress,  that  I  was  in  danger,  like  another  Pygmalion, 
of  falling  in  love  with  the  figure  I  had  made. 

"  Doctor,"  exclaimed  the  Marchioness  in  trans- 
ports of  joy,  "  I  will  make  reparation  to  your  injured 
honour.  I  confess  I  thought  you  an  empiric,  but  you 
have  very  agreeably  undeceived  me,  and  I  now  hail 
you  as  the  most  incomparable  practitioner  the  world 
has  ever  produced." 

"  Madam,"  replied  I,  "  to  speak  to  you  with  a 
candour  equal  to  your  own,  I  can  easily  forgive  the 
doubts  you  entertained  of  the  efficacy  of  my  com- 
position ;  for  I  confess  that  I  did  not  myself  expect 
they  would  produce  so  happy  an  effect." 

Overjoyed  to  find  herself  in  a  situation  to  shine 
once  a<?ain  in  the  circles  of  fashion,  the  old  ladv 
presented  me  with  a  purse  containing  a  hundred 
doubloons,  on  condition  that  I  would  regularly  furnish 
her  with  sufficient  quantities  of  these  grand  specifics. 
Promising  her  an  ample  supply,  I  took  my  leave  in 
order  to  enclose  my  doubloons  in  the  portmanteau 
which  contained  the  pistoles  of  the  Countess  and  t!  e 
ducats  of  my  uncle  ;  a  ceremony  I  could  not  perform 
without  giving  my  increasing  wealth  new  testimonies 
of  my  idolatry. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  317 


CHAPTER  XL. 

IN  WHICH  THE  READER  WILL  FIND  A  STRANGE  REVERSE 
OF  FORTUNE,  AND  A  DEPLORABLE  TRAIT  OF  HUMAN 
MALICE. 

THE  more  a  dropsical  person  drinks,  the  drier  he 
grows ;  and  the  more  a  miser  amasses,  the  more 
covetous  he  is  of  riches. 

Signora  Dalfa  and  her  niece  industriously  con- 
tributed to  advance  my  practice,  under  an  idea  that 
I  would  perform  my  promise  of  teaching  them  the 
art  of  compounding  my  lotion  and  my  pomade, 
and  I  certainly  did  not  intend  to  disappoint  their 
expectations  ;  but  the  reverse  of  fortune  which  I  all 
at  once  experienced,  and  which  I  shall  now  recount, 
put  it  out  of  my  power. 

One  morning,  while  I  was  enjoying  in  contempla- 
tion the  prosperity  of  my  affairs,  I  was  extremely 
surprised  to  see  a  man  enter  my  room  with  the 
audacity  of  an  alguazil.  On  asking  him  who  he 
wanted,  "You,"  replied  he  fiercely,  while  he  exhibited 
to  my  view  a  golden  medal  which  hung  upon  his 
breast  between  his  shirt  and  his  skin,  arid  upon  which 
were  engraven  the  tremendous  insignia  of  the  Holy 
Inquisition.  "  I  have  the  honour  to  be  an  agent  to 
the  Holy  Office,  and  I  am  ordered  by  my  superiors  to 
arrest  you.  Follow  me  ;  I  will  conduct  you  to  your 
prison." 

Distracted  by  this  information,  and  scarcely  know- 
ing what  I  was  about,  I  endeavoured  to  seize  and 
grapple  with  the  officer  ;  but  he  immediately  laughed 


318  THE  HISTORY  OF 

in  my  face,  saying,  "  Young  gentleman,  you  are 
taking  dangerous  measures  ;  you  may,  perhaps,  be 
ignorant  of  the  respect  which  is  due  to  this  high 
tribunal.  All  persons,  of  whatever  quality  or  con- 
dition, who  are  arrested  by  its  officers,  surrender 
themselves  without  resistance  ;  and  if  any  one,  which 
is  very  rare,  either  from  ignorance  or  obstinacy,  shows 
the  slightest  disposition  to  resist,  all  persons  are 
bound  to  aid  in  executing  the  order  of  the  Grand 
Inquisition.  Come,  therefore,  quietly  with  me,  unless 
vou  rather  choose  to  be  dragged  isrnominiously  alone 
by  force  and  violence." 

Perceiving  from  this  address  that  all  opposition 
would  be  useless,  I  followed  the  officer,  who  im- 
mediately conducted  me  to  the  prison  of  the  Holy 
Tribunal,  where  a  gaoler,  surrounded  by  a  band  of 
guards,  immediately  enclosed  me  in  a  dungeon, 
saying,  "The  Commissary  of  this  Holy  Institution 
will  be  with  you  presently.  Prepare  yourself,  there- 
fore, to  answer  the  questions  he  shall  propound  with 
sincerity  and  precision."  Having  pronounced  these 
words,  he  retired,  leaving  me  in  a  stupefaction  of 
grief  and  astonishment,  from  which  I  was  not  per- 
fectly recovered  when  the  Commissary  arrived. 

The  Commissary,  after  asking  my  name  and  my 
profession,  exhorted  me,  for  my  own  interest,  faith- 
fully to  discover  all  the  wealth  I  possessed,  assuring 
me,  in  order  to  produce  a  readier  compliance,  that  if 
I  was  innocent,  as  he  believed  I  was,  all  the  property 
would  be  restored  to  me  with  religious  fidelity;  but 
that,  if  I  concealed  the  most  trifling  part  of  it  from 
the  knowledge  of  my  judges,  all  my  wealth,  real  and 
personal,  movable  and  immovable,  would  be  con- 
fiscated.    "You  ought  not  to  doubt,"  continued  thjj 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  319 

honest  minister  of  justice,  "the  integrity  of  the  Holy 
Office ;  and  if  you  are  not  guilt)',  you  may  rest 
assured  that  all  your  effects  will  be  scrupulously 
restored  into  your  hands." 

Duped  by  this  perfidious  assurance,  and  imagining 
I  was  dealing  with  saints,  I  was  foolish  enough  to 
confess  that  I  had  money  in  my  portmanteau  at  the 
hotel,  and  discovered  not  only  its  species,  but  its 
amount. 

The  Commissary,  eager  to  make  the  seizure,  imme- 
diately repaired  to  the  hotel,  commanded  the  host, 
in  the  name  of  the  Holy  Office,  to  open  the  door 
of  my  chamber ;  and,  without  farther  ceremony,  took 
away  not  only  my  portmanteau,  but  all  my  clothes, 
neither  of  which  I  have  since  seen. 

While  this  expedition  was  performing,  I  lay  in 
mv  dungeon  extended  on  a  bed  of  straw  in  all  the 
horrors  of  imprisonment,  and  vainly  searching  my 
mind  to  discover  a  possible  cause  for  my  appre- 
hension. 

"What  crime,"  said  I,  "have  I  committed,  to 
deserve  this  cruel  punishment  ?  My  conscience  does 
not  accuse  me  of  any  offence  within  the  ordinary 
jurisdiction  of  the  Holy  Office.  They  must  certainly 
have  mistaken  me  for  some  other  person." 

Unable  to  satisfy  my  suspense,  I  became  by 
degrees  a  prey  to  grief,  and,  feeling  all  the  violence 
of  despair,  uttered  my  complaints  so  loudly,  that  I 
made  the  walls  of  my  dungeon  re-echo  with  my  cries. 

At  the  noise  I  occasioned  in  thus  deploring  the 
Werity  of  my  fate,  one  of  those  guards  who  were 
Jv^ght  and  day  incessantly  on  the  watch,  opened  the 
dungeon  door,  and,  giving  me  five  or  six  heavy  blows 
with  his  musket  across  my  shoulders,  "  Silence,"  said 


320  THE  HISTORY  OF 

he,  with  a  hoarse  voice,  "  silence ;  and  learn,  that  in 
the  holy  prison  where  you  now  are,  the  most  profound 
silence  is  observed,  which  no  one  is  permitted  to 
disturb.  Recollect  that  no  prisoner  here  is  permitted 
to  complain  ;  for  the  Holy  Inquisition,  being  incap- 
able of  committing  the  least  injustice,  is  justly 
offended  by  those  who  even  seem  to  think  it  severe. 
I  tell  you  this  once  for  all  ;  and  therefore,  if  you 
again  raise  your  voice  in  lamentation  so  as  to  be 
heard,  I  shall  treat  you  with  more  rigour  than  you 
have  already  felt.     Take  warning  from  what  I  say." 

On  uttering  these  words  he  shut  the  door  of  the 
dungeon,  and  left  me  to  my  own  reflections.  I  made 
but  one.  Perceiving  that  patience  was  my  only  re- 
source, I  determined  to  make  a  virtue  of  necessity, 
which  is  no  easy  task  under  the  pains  of  lingering 
sufferance,  unless  Heaven  kindly  interposes  its  aid,  as 
I  fancy  it  had  the  goodness  to  do  at  this  conjuncture; 
for,  insensibly  absorbing  my  troubles,  and  consider- 
ing them  as  a  punishment  of  my  past  offences,  I  be- 
came tranquil  and  resigned. 

"  Instead,  Vanillo,"  reasoned  I  with  myself,  "  of 
suffering  yourself  to  despair,  make  a  pious  use  of 
your  afflictions  :  conceive  that  the  Almighty  is  putting 
your  virtue  a  second  time  to  trial;  and  recollect  your 
miraculous  escape  from  the  prison  of  Avila.  The  Cor- 
regidor  had  nearly  involved  you  in  the  same  punish- 
ment with  those  guilty  persons  in  whose  company 
you  were  found,  but  Heaven  released  you  from  that 
peril,  and  you  ought  to  hope  that  He  will  not  abandon 
you  in  this.  You  will  be  tried  by  enlightened  judges, 
by  holy  men,  who  will  immediately  order  you  to  be 
set  at  liberty,  and  will  restore  your  money  to  the 
utmost  farthing." 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  321 

These  reflections  induced  me  to  wish  most  ardently 
for  the  day  of  trial.  It  arrived  on  the  third  clay  of  my 
captivity.  The  gaoler  conducted  me  under  a  strong 
guard  to  the  tribunal  of  the  Grand  Inquisition,  which 
was  in  a  spacious  hall,  hung  round  with  green  cloth,  at 
the  eid  of  which  stood  a  large  crucifix  of  white  marble, 
finely  sculptured  and  raised  almost  to  the  ceiling.  The 
judge,  who  was  a  member  of  the  Holy  Order  of  St- 
Dominic,  was  conspicuously  seated  in  a  magnificent 
chair  at  the  extremity  of  a  long  table.  He  looked 
round  him  with  all  the  arrogance  of  power.  His 
secretary,  a  little  priest,  blacker  than  a  mole,  was 
seated  on  a  stool  opposite  to  him.  The  moment  my 
eye  caught  the  figure  of  this  formidable  Minos,  I  ran 
towards  him  and  threw  myself  at  his  feet,  hoping  by 
this  means  to  move  his  feeling  and  touch  his  heart. 

Useless  humanity  !  He  commanded  me  to  rise, 
and  then  ordered  me  to  declare  the  crime  for  which  I 
had  been  arrested. 

I  replied  that  I  was  totally  ignorant  of  the  cause, 
and  implored  with  great  humility  his  very  illustrious 
reverence  to  have  the  goodness  to  inform  me. 

"Sir,"  replied  the  Inquisitor,  calmly,  "that  is  not 
our  practice;  you  are  now  in  a  court  of  secular  juris- 
diction :  it  is  incumbent  on  you  to  declare  the  cause 
of  your  imprisonment,  and  I  exhort  you  to  discover 
it  immediately,  as  it  is  the  only  means  by  which  you 
can  regain  your  liberty." 

Struck  with  extreme  astonishment  at  these  words, 
I  threw  myself  on  my  knees  a  second  time  before  my 
judge  and  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears.  "O  holy 
father!"  exclaimed  I,  "how  is  it  possible  for  me  to 
discover  a  matter  of  which  I  am  totally  ignorant?" 

"  Useless   prevarication,"    replied    the    monk,    un- 


322  THE  HISTORY  OF 

moved  by  my  distress  ;  "  accuse  yourself  this  moment, 
or  be  silent." 

I  again  attempted  to  represent  to  him  the  impossi- 
bility of  complying  with  his  demand  ;  but  the  Grand 
Inquisitor,  with  inflexible  sternness,  persisted  in 
simply  repeating  his  question,  until  piqued  by  my 
seeming  obstinacy,  he  ordered  me  to  be  silent,  and 
sounded  the  silver  bell  which  stood  before  him  on 
the  table,  as  a  signal  for  the  holy  myrmidons  to  ap- 
proach. 

At  this  moment  an  object,  which  I  could  not  behold 
without  great  mortification,  immediately  entered  the 
hall ;  it  was  my  portmanteau  and  other  property, 
carried  by  two  men  under  the  protection  of  a  strong 
guard,  and  followed  by  the  commissary  who  had 
seized  them.  At  the  sight  of  these  beloved  spoils, 
my  eves  instinctivelv  shed  a  flood  of  tears,  and 
seemed  to  feel  they  were  taking  a  last  farewell.  The 
Inquisitor,  however,  having  caused  the  portmanteau 
to  be  opened  in  my  presence,  and  an  inventory  to  be 
taken  of  its  contents,  assured  me  the  whole  would  be 
exactly  restored  to  me  whenever  I  was  released  from 
the  Inquisition.  But  this  wealth,  gr.'.at  as  it  was, 
would  not  content  these  gentlemen.  They  searched 
my  person,  and  when  I  tell  you  they  took  away 
even  my  pocket  handkerchief,  you  will  easily  conjec- 
ture they  did  not  leave  the  ring  which  had  been 
given  me  by  the  alcade's  wife. 

This  ceremony  being  performed,  and  the  Grand 
Inquisitor  having  again  exhorted  me  not  to  delay  a 
disclosure  of  the  cause  of  my  imprisonment,  retired 
from  the  court  with  my  effects,  which  were  closely 
guarded  by  the  little  black  priest  and  the  commis- 
sary. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  32) 

The  gaoler,  when  the  hall  was  cleared,  reconducted 
me  to  my  dungeon,  where  I  passed  the  remainder  of 
the  day  without  either  eating  or  drinking,  and  the  suc- 
ceeding night  without  closing  my  eyes.  The  decla- 
ration which  the  Grand  Inquisitor  had  required  me 
to  make  continually  recurred  to  my  mind  ;  but  the 
more  I  thought  of  it,  the  more  absurd  I  felt  it  to  be. 

At  the  expiration  of  three  days  I  was  again  con- 
ducted into  the  presence  of  this  judge,  who  said, 
"Well,  sir,  will  you  now  declare  the  cause  of  your 
imprisonment  ?  " 

"How  is  it  possible  for  me  to  divine  it?"  replied 
I.  "  Do  you  not  perceive,  O  holy  father,  that  you 
are  requiring  me  to  perform  a  physical  impossibility. 
I  am  entirely  ignorant  who  it  is  that  has  denounced 
me  to  the  Holy  Office,  and  ignorant  I  must  for  ever 
remain,  unless  you  will  have  the  goodness  to  inform 
me.  If  I  have  accusers,  why  are  they  not  confronted 
with  me?  This  is  not  only  the  surest  but  the 
shortest  mode  of  establishing  my  guilt  or  proving 
my  innocence." 

The  Inquisitor,  shaking  his  head,  interrupted  me. 
"I  perceive,"  said  he,  "that  you  have  no  inclination 
to  be  immediately  released  from  your  confinement. 
We  have  seen  witnesses  against  you,  all  of  them 
good  citizens,  and  men  of  the  highest  honour  and 
integrity.  You  are,  without  doubt,  well  apprised  of 
the  facts  they  are  capable  of  adducing  against  you. 
Regulate  your  conduct  accordingly.  Confess  with 
a  good  grace  that  you  are  guilty  of  the  crime  they 
impute  to  you.  It  is  only  by  confession  that  you 
can  prevent  the  rigorous  sentence  which  the  Holy 
Office  pronounces  on  all  prisoners  who  obstinately 
and  contumaciously  deny  their  guilt." 


324  THE  HISTORY  OF 

The  Grand  Inquisitor,  having  uttered  this  admoni- 
tion, left  the  hall,  followed  by  his  adjuncts — that  is 
to  say,  by  his  secretary  and  the  commissary— and  I 
was  reconducted  to  my  dungeon  much  more  dissatis- 
fied with  my  second  audience  than  I  had  been  with 
my  first. 

"  I  am  compelled,"  said  I,  "  to  accuse  myself.  But 
of  what  crime  ?  The  crime  of  which  my  accusers 
have  deposed  that  I  am  guilty.  But  what  crime  is 
this  ?  This  confounds  me.  I  cannot,  upon  a  strict 
examination,  find  that  my  conscience  reproaches  me." 
The  doubloons  of  my  dropsical  patient  at  Murcia, 
and  those  of  the  licentiate  of  Salablanca,  occurred  to 
my  mind,  and  1  was  weak  enough  to  conceive  that 
these  matters  were  the  cause  of  my  arrest.  Reflecting, 
however,  that  these  were  not  the  sort  of  offences  of 
which  the  Holy  Office  had  a  right  to  take  cognisance, 
I  comforted  myself  upon  these  points,  and  only  felt 
an  anxiety  to  learn  who  were  my  accusers,  and  what 
was  the  kind  of  offence  they  laid  to  my  charge.  At 
length,  on  a  third  audience,  the  secret  was  disclosed 
in  the  way  I  shall  now  relate. 

The  Grand  Inquisitor  asked  me,  as  upon  the  two 
preceding  audiences,  if  I  was  still  ignorant  of  the 
cause  of  my  detention;  and  upon  my  answering  that 
I  neither  knew  nor  could  conjecture  the  cause,  the 
secretary  opened  a  register  which  lay  before  him, 
and  in  which  were  written  the  depositions  taken 
against  me. 

"The  secretary,"  said  the  Inquisitor,  "  is  going  to 
read  the  heads  of  the  several  accusations  which  are 
brought  against  you.  Listen  to  them  attentively,  and 
you  will  perceive  that  the  Holy  Inquisition,  always 
slow  to  punish,  takes  care  to  be  well  informed  of  the 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  3^5 

conduct   of  the   guilty    before   it    proceeds   against 
them." 

The  secretary,  the  moment  the  Inquisitor  had 
finished  this  harangue,  began  to  read  the  depositions 
of  my  accusers,  and  they  all  concurred  precisely  in 
imputing  to  me  the  crime  of  sorcery,  by  assuring  "all 
whom  it  might  concern,  that  a  certain  person  named 
Gonzales,  calling  himself  a  chemist,  had,  without 
license  from  the  Corregidor,  secretly  and  clandestinely 
sold  to  certain  females  a  certain  pomade  and  a 
certain  lotion,  which  at  the  instigation,  and  by  the 
assistance  and  operation  of  the  devil,  changed  the 
course  of  nature,  and  converted  the  decrepitude  of 
age  into  the  activity  of  youth." 

While  this  accusation  was  reading,  I  could  not 
refrain  from  bursting  into  a  fit  of  laughter,  which, 
considering  the  place  and  the  circumstances  I  was  in, 
was  certainly  very  ill-timed. 

The  secretary  appeared  so  offended  by  this  irreve- 
rence, that  he  immediately  discontinued  reading,  and 
the  Inquisitor  looking  at  me  obliquely,  said,  "  My 
friend,  hie  rider e  nefas" 

These  three  words  brought  me  to  such  a  serious 
recollection  of  my  offence,  that,  throwing  myself  on 
my  knees,  I  humbly  begged  pardon  for  this  disre- 
spectful behaviour,  assuring  him  that  it  was  impos- 
sible for  me  to  restrain  the  laugh  which  had  so 
indiscreetly  escaped  me  on  hearing  the  accusation. 

"What  is  there  in  it  so  ridiculous,  then?"  replied 
the  Inquisitor,  gravely;  "you  will  learn,  I  fancy,  that 
it  is  extremely  serious." 

"  Permit  me,  then,  Mr.  Inquisitor,"  replied   I,  witiO 
vivacity,  "to  point  out  to  your  reverence  the  absurdity 
of  it.     I  possess,  it  is  true,  the  secret  of  compounding 


326  THE  HISTORY  OF 

a  certain  pomade  and  a  certain  lotion  which  preserves 
the  complexion  and  improves  the  skin;  but  there  is 
nothing  unnatural  in  the  operation;  and  I  solemnly 
assure  you  that  the  devil  has  nothing  to  do  with  it." 

"  That  fact  is  not  positively  averred,"  replied  the 
judge;  "the  accusation  alleges  that  you  can  convert 
an  old  woman  into  a  young  girl ;  that  you  can  restore 
lost  beauty ;  and  then  it  avers  that  you  are  either 
a  sorcerer  or  a  chemist." 

"O  Heavens!"  exclaimed  I,  "  what  accusers  have 
you  raised  up  against  mel  I  am  inclined  to  think 
that  they  must  be  either  apothecaries  or  perfumers, 
who,  possessing  no  invention  of  their  own,  are  armed 
by  envy  against  a  man  who  has  made  a  useful  dis- 
covery." 

I  observed  that  during  this  discourse,  the  Grand 
Inquisitor,  accustomed  as  he  was  to  dissemble  his 
thoughts,  seemed  sensible  not  only  of  my  innocence, 
but  that  I  had  discovered  my  accusers  ;  but,  for  the 
honour  of  the  Holy  Office,  he  carefully  avoided  the 
avowal  of  it,  because  by  such  an  avowal  he  would 
have  been  obliged  to  set  me  at  liberty,  as  an  inno- 
cent man  falsely  accused,  and  to  have  restored  me 
my  property.  Suddenly  putting  an  end  therefore 
to  all  further  conversation,  "  We  will  scrutinise  this 
matter  to  the  bottom,"  said  the  Inquisitor;  "it  is  a 
nice  question.  If  there  be  really  no  magic  in  your 
composition,  it  is  but  just  that  you  should  be  imme- 
diately enlarged." 

Such  was  the  result  of  my  third  examination, 
from  whence  I  retired  once  more  to  my  dungeon, 
with  as  much  gaiety  as  if  this  honest  Inquisitor  had 
absolved  me  from  all  the  charges  of  my  accusers. 

My  joy,  however,  was  of  short  duration  ;  for,  eight 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  327 

days  afterwards,  the  judge  having  caused  me  to  be 
again  brought  into  his  presence,  said,  "I  have  bad 
news  to  announce  to  you;  your  cause  takes  an  un- 
favourable turn.  Your  accusers  have  adduced  new 
charges  against  you,  and  maintain  that  you  deserve 
to  be  burned  as  an  enchanter.  They  allege  that 
you  metamorphose ;  and  they  cite,  among  other 
females  upon  whom  you  have  exercised  your  art, 
a  certain  marchioness,  who,  only  fifteen  days  ago, 
appeared  in  all  the  decrepitude  of  age,  but  who  now 
shines  with  the  bloom  of  youth.  This,  as  you  will 
readily  conceive,  does  not  contribute  to  your  dis- 
charge. Chemistry  is  incapable  of  producing  such 
extraordinary  effects ;  and  the  inference  that  the 
devil  has  some  concern  in  these  transactions  seems 
well  founded.  There  are  even  two  witnesses  who 
swear  that  they  have  heard  you  conjure  up  evil  spirits 
to  assist  you  in  fabricating  your  compositions." 

"Ah,  the  villains!"  exclaimed  I,  on  hearing  these 
last  words  ;  "  who  is  it  that  can  be  wicked  enough 
to  invent  such  falsehoods  ?  What  can  I  have  done 
to  those  two  miserable  deponents  that  they  should 
thus  dare  to  calumniate  me  ?  May  the  forked 
lightning  of  Heaven  flash   upon  " 

"No  imprecations,"  interrupted  the  Inquisitor,  "no 
invectives.  Retire  to  your  prison,  and  tranquillise 
your  agitated  soul  until  it  is  clearly  decided  whether 
you  are  a  sorcerer,  an  enchanter,  a  chemist,  or  the 
devil." 


32  8  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER  XLI. 

THE   CONSOLATION    VANILLO   RECEIVED   DURING   HIS 

CONFINEMENT. 

The  Inquisitor's  last  words  afforded  very  little  con- 
solation to  my  mind.  "  Holy  God  !  "  exclaimed  I, 
as  I  entered  my  cell,  "  what  will  be  the  end  of  all 
these  machinations  ?  My  judges,  whether  from 
ignorance  or  malice,  have  only  to  declare  that  my 
pomade  has  a  cabalistic  smell,  and  the  poor  chemist 
will  be  condemned  to  the  flames.  O  Heavens ! 
innocent  as  I  am,  I  may  be  burned  alive  at  the  next 
auto-da-fe. 

This  reflection  deeply  afflicted  my  mind,  which 
sunk  into  so  profound  a  melancholy,  as  would,  in  all 
probability,  soon  have  bereaved  me  of  my  senses, 
if  Heaven  had  not  averted  the  misfortune  by  sending 
me,  on  the  ensuing  day,  consolation  which  I  never 
expected. 

One  of  the  guards,  who  generally  supplied  me  with 
my  allowance  of  victuals,  on  entering  my  cell,  ap- 
peared, contrary  to  custom,  inclined  to  speak  to 
me. 

"  Unhappy  prisoner,"  said  he  in  a  low  tone  of 
voice,  "is  not  your  name  Vanillo  Gonzales?" 

"  It  is,  my  friend,"  replied  I ;  "  that  is  my  name." 

"Then,"  replied  the  guard,  "I  am  charged  with  a 
message  which  J.  have  undertaken  to  deliver  to  you 
at  the  risk  of  all  the  danger  to  which  i  expose  myself 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  329 

by  interesting  myself  in  your  affairs.  There  are  two 
ladies  so  anxious  for  your  safety,  that  they  are 
stirring  heaven  and  earth  in  order  to  release  you 
from  the  fangs  of  the  Inquisition.  They  have 
already  engaged  several  powerful  noblemen  to  in- 
terest themselves  in  your  cause;  and  I  can  assure 
you,  that  the  power  of  their  intercession  is  so  great, 
that  you  have  every  reason  to  hope  for  a  speedy 
release." 

A  ray  of  comfort  beamed  upon  my  afflicted  mind. 

"  My  friend,"  replied  I  to  the  guard,  "  it  is  mortify- 
ing to  my  feelings  that  I  am  only  able  to  reward  your 
kindness  by  words,  for  the  Holy  Office  has  deprived 
me  of" 

"  I  know  it  well,"  replied  he  with  precipita-" 
tion  ;  "  they  have  only  left  you  that  which  it  was  not 
in  their  power  to  take  away  ;  but  I  expect  no  more 
from  you  than  mere  thanks  ;  if  I  desire  more,  the 
ladies  who  interest  themselves  so  warmly  in  your 
favour  will  reward  me  liberally." 

"Tell  me,"  said  I,  "tell  me  the  names  of  these 
charitable  females,  who  are  attempting  this  enter- 
prise for  my  deliverance." 

"Excuse  me,  Signor  Gonzales,"  replied  he,  "I 
cannot  satisfy  your  curiosity  on  this  subject,  for  they 
expressly  forbade  me  to  disclose  their  names  ;  but 
rhey,  at  the  same  time,  desired  me  to  inform  you, 
that  they  would  never  rest  until  you  were  released 
from  confinement." 

The  guard,  having  in  this  manner  discharged  his 
commission,  hastily  retired,  lest  his  longer  stay  might 
excite  suspicion. 

After  his  departure,  "  I  wish,"  said  I,  "  that  this 


330  THE  HISTORY  OF 

friendly  guard  had  told  me  the  names  of  rny  gener- 
ous protectors,  whom  I  suspect  to  be  the  countess 
and  the  alcade's  wife,  or  perhaps  the  marchioness. 
These  ladies,  being  informed  by  common  report  of 
my  misfortune,  are  impelled  by  gratitude  to  relieve 
my  distress.  But  may  I  not  deceive  myself  by  this 
conjecture  ?  May  not  the  lovely  agents  who  are 
making  so  many  efforts  in  my  favour  rather  be 
Signora  Dalfa  and  her  niece?"  I  paused  for  some 
time  upon  this  idea.  "  Yes,"  cried  I,  "  it  must  be 
them,  I  can  doubt  of  it  no  longer.  The  rumour  of 
my  imprisonment  has  reached  their  ears,  and  Bernar- 
dina  has  certainly  applied  to  the  Count  de  Medellin 
to  intercede  for  me." 

The  circumstance  which  confirmed  me  still  mc  ; 
in  this  opinion  was,  that  as  I  had  not  yet  communi- 
cated to  them  the  promised  secret,  the  fear  of  losing 
■it  would  induce  them  to  solicit  my  liberty. 

It  was  in  fact  these  two  ladies  who  had  tampered 
with  the  guard.  He  acknowledged  it  to  me  on  the 
following  day. 

"  It  is  true,  Signor  Gonzales,"  said  he,  "  that  you 
are  indebted  to  Bernardina  and  Signora  Dalfa,  her 
aunt,  for  the  trifling  service  I  rendered  you  yesterday. 
They  engaged  me  to  inform  you,  that  having  heard 
you  were  in  custody  of  the  Holy  Office,  they  had 
raised  a  party  to  protect  you.  The  Count  de  Me- 
dellin, and  the  Prior  of  Castile,  on  their  entreaties, 
have  importuned  the  Grand  Inquisitor,  with  whom 
they  are  particularly  intimate  ;  and  I  have  no  doubt 
they  will  obtain  your  enlargement.  Not,  indeed," 
continued  the  guard,  "without  considerable  diffi- 
culty ;  for  this  judge  informed  his  noble  friends  that 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  331 

you  Weie  charged  with  sorcery,  and  you  know  that 
sorcery  is  a  crime  to  which  the  Inquisition  shows  no 
mercy.  You  may,  however,  expect  everything  from 
the  influence  of  two  such  friends." 

These  observations  gave  new  inquietude  to  my 
mind.  "If  the  Inquisitor,"  said  I,  "obstinately  per- 
sists in  his  inclination  to  make  me  guilty,  he  will  pay 
no  regard  to  the  solicitations  of  these  noblemen,  who, 
on  their  part,  piqued  at  having  requested  the  release 
of  a  prisoner  in  vain,  will  quarrel  with  him,  and  I 
shall  be  the  victim  of  their  disagreement." 

In  truth,  on  the  evening  of  the  ensuing  day,  the 
guard,  in  bringing  me  my  supper,  said  to  me,  "  I 
have  just  seen  the  ladies,  and  they  desire  me  to 
inform  you,  that  the  Count  de  Medellin  and  the 
Prior  of  Castile  were  so  little  satisfied  with  the 
success  of  their  application  to  the  Grand  Inquisitor, 
that  they  have  applied  to  the  Count  de  Olivarez,  the 
Prime  Minister,  and  requested  him,  from  motives  of 
humanity,  to  interpose  on  your  behalf,  and  save  an 
innocent  man  from  the  flames.  They  described  to 
him  the  metamorphoses  attributed  to  your  pomade, 
and  his  Excellency,  after  a  hearty  laugh,  has  assured 
them  that  you  shall  not  fall  a  victim  to  the  holy' 
indignation  of  the  Inquisition.  Of  this  the  ladies 
charged  me  to  give  you  information.  In  a  few  days 
I  will  acquaint  ycu  what  the  Count  de  Olivarez  shall 
have  done  in  this  affair." 


332  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER  XLII. 

THE  MANNER  AND  CONDITION  IN  WHICH  VANILLO  WAS 
RELEASED  FROM  THE  DUNGEON  OF  THE  HOLY  IN 
QUISITION. 

The  report  which  the  guard  conveyed  to  me  afforded 
me  some  hope  of  being  released.  Conscious  that 
the  Count  de  Olivarez,  less  minister  than  king,  was 
capable  of  effecting  whatever  he  pleased,  I  persuaded 
myself  that  the  Grand  Inquisitor  would  readily  re- 
lease me  upon  his  request ;  and  I  was  not  deceived 
in  my  conjectures. 

The  minister,  on  going  as  usual  to  the  rovai 
levee,  met  the  Inquisitor  in  the  ante-chamber,  and, 
accosting  him  vvirii  a  smile,  drew  him  aside,  saying, 
"  Mr.  Inquisitor,  I  have  a  favour  to  request  of  your 
reverence." 

"  A  favour  to  request  ?"  replied  the  monk  with  an 
humble  aspect.     "  I  beg  you  will  command  me." 

"There  is,"  replied  the  minister,  "in  the  prisons 
of  the  Inquisition,  a  celebrated  chemist  named 
Gonzales,  and  you  will  do  me  a  favour  by  setting 
him  at  liberty." 

"The  evidence  against  him,"  replied  the  Inquisitor, 
"proves  most  clearly  that  he  deals  in  magic;  but 
I  cannot  refuse  anything  to  your  Excellency:  he 
shall  be  emancipated  to-morrow.  But,"  continued 
be,  "I  trust  that  your  Excellency  will  think  it  right 
that  his  enlargement  should  be  managed  in  such  a 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  333 

way  as  not  to  discredit  the  proceedings  of  our  Holy 
Office." 

"  I  am  willing  he  should  be  so  discharged,''  re- 
plied the  minister.  "  God  forbid  that  I  should 
wish,  in  the  slightest  degree,  to  prejudice  the  au- 
thority of  your  high  tribunal.  I  shall  be  content  if 
this  prisoner  is  by  any  means  delivered  safe  and 
sound  out  of  your  custody." 

The  Inquisitor  punctually  performed  his  promise. 
But  it  was  necessary  that  I  should  previously  under- 
go certain  ceremonies  which  the  Holy  Office  scru- 
pulously observe  upon  such  occasions,  and  which, 
as  I  no  longer  dread  its  power,  I  will  venture  to 
describe. 

On  the  day  after  the  Prime  Minister  had  applied 
to  the  Grand  Inquisitor,  I  was  conducted  into  a 
large  hall,  where  the  Inquisitor  waited  to  give  me 
leave  of  absence. 

"Gonzales,"  said  he,  "your  process  is  at  an  end, 
and  you  are  now  about  to  be  discharged  from  prison ; 
but,  in  conformity  to  ancient  usage,  you  must  first 
confess  that  you  are — gtdlty!' 

"  How,  guilty  !  "  interrupted  I  hastily  ;  "  I  never 
will  confess  that." 

"  Listen  to  me  with  attention,"  interrupted  the 
monk  in  his  turn,  "and  do  not  perversely  injure 
your  own  interests.  As  the  Holy  Inquisition  never 
arrests  any  person  unjustly,  it  is  always  expected 
that  when  a  prisoner  is  released,  he  shall,  notwith- 
standing his  innocence,  confess  himself  guilty,  in 
order  that  he  may  entitle  himself  to  mercy." 

Confounded  by  this  metaphysical  reasoning,  I 
confessed  everything  that  the  Inquisitor  asked  of  me. 


334  THE  HISTORY  OF 

"  Now,"  said  he,  "  there  is  only  one  thing  more 
remains  to  be  done  to  experience  the  mercy  of  the 
Hoi)-  Office ; "  and,  at  the  same  time,  opening  a 
missal  which  lay  upon  the  table,  and  desiring  me 
to  place  my  hand  upon  it,  said — 

■•  You  promise  and  swear  that  you  will  preserve 
an  eternal  silence  respecting  everything  you  have 
heard  or  seen  in  the  Inquisition,  and  respecting  the 
time  or  manner  of  your  imprisonment  there  ;  that 
you  will  never  speak  of  this  tribunal  or  its  ministers 
except  with  profound  respect. 

"If,  therefore,  any  trait  of  raillery  should  escape 
from  your  lips  against  this  sacred  Institution,  you 
may  probably  repent  of  it ;  for,  in  whatever  city, 
town,  borough,  or  other  place  in  Spain,  you  may 
chance  to  be,  there  are  officers  who  watch  unceasingly 
over  its  interest,  and  who  arrest,  without  distinction, 
every  person  who  dares  to  speak  of  it  with  irreve- 
rence. Therefore  take  good  care  upon  this  point," 
continued  the  monk,  "  for  if  you  unfortunately 
again  fall  into  our  hands,  you  will  be  punished  as 
a  relapse,  and  of  course  committed  to  the  flames, 
without  the  interest  even  of  the  powerful  protector 
to  whom  you  are  indebted  for  your  present  enlarge- 
ment being  able  to  save  you.  Take,  therefore,  the 
oath  I  demand  of  you,  and  retire  to  whatever  place 
you  please." 

"  But,  my  most  reverend  father,"  said  I,  "  have  the 
goodness,  if  you  please,  to  return  me  my  clothes  and 
my  portmanteau." 

"Ah!  my  young  friend,"  replied  his  reverence,  as 
if  he  had  been  moved  with  compassion  for  my  distress, 
"  I  pit)-  you,  and  that  is  all  you  can  receive  from  me. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  335 

The  moment  a  person  accused  is  confined  in  the 
prison  of  the  Holy  Office  on  a  suspicion  of  magic, 
from  that  moment  all  his  property  is  forfeited  to  the 
use  of  the  king;  and  it  is  a  rule  of  the  spiritual  law 
that  confiscation  is  irrevocable.  It  is  unfortunate  for 
you  ;  but  you  must  console  yourself  by  reflecting  that 
the  majority  of  the  prisoners  seldom  escape,  as  you 
have  done,  only  with  the  loss  of  their  property." 

This  discourse  convincing  me  that  his  reverence  the 
Grand  Inquisitor  had  no  desire  to  release  my  port- 
manteau from  his  custody,  I  submitted  with  a  good 
grace  to  the  confiscation ;  and  taking  the  oath  upon 
the  missal  that  I  would  never  speak  of  those  gentle- 
men, the  conductors  of  the  Holy  Office,  except  with 
praise,  I  issued  from  their  prisons  almost  naked  ;  the 
doorkeepers  of  this  "infernal  region,  in  order  to  have  a 
share  in  my  spoils,  having,  as  I  went  out,  taken  from 
me  the  decent  clothes  I  then  had  on,  and  given  nve 
in  exchange  an  old  black  coat  divested  of  its  sleeves, 
which,  from  the  singes  yet  apparent  on  many  parts 
of  it,  was  evidently  the  remains  of  the  last  covering 
of  some  unhappy  victim  who  had  been  devoted  to  the 
flames. 


336  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 

VAN1LL0  EXPRESSES  HIS  GRATITUDE  TO  DALFA  AND 
BERNARDINA  FOR  PROCURING  HIS  ENLARGEMENT. 
THE  CONSOLING  RECEPTION  HE  MET  WITH  FROM 
THOSE  LADIES,  AND  THE  SECRET  HE  COMMUNICATED 
TO   THEM  IN  RETURN. 

I  FELT  such  a  sense  of  shame  from  the  miserable 
condition  in  which  I  appeared  on  my  departure  from 
the  prison  of  the  Inquisition,  that  I  sought  refuge  in 
a  neighbouring  church,  which,  thank  Heaven,  was 
quite  empty,  where,  concealing  myself  behind  a  tomb, 
I  awaited  the  approach  of  night  ;  and  the  moment  it 
arrived,  I  flew  to  the  house  of  my  fair  benefactors. 
But,  alas!  so  far  were  they  from  immediately  re- 
collecting me  under  my  present  disguise,  that  they 
felt  a  temporary  alarm,  until  further  observation 
brought  me  to  their  minds,  when  they  instantly  burst 
into  loud  and  repeated  fits  of  laughter. 

"  I  am  happy  to  find,  ladies,"  said  I,  "  that  the 
prison  uniform  pleases  you." 

"Why,  yes,"  replied  Bernardina,  who  was  still  a 
lively  laughing  girl ;  "  and  we  are  particularly  pleased 
with  your  waistcoat ;  it  gives  you  a  gallant  air;  but  it 
is  a  great  pity  that  it  smells  so  strongly  of  the  auto- 
da-fe." 

"  It  is,"  replied  I,  "  a  present  which  I  received  from 
the  prison  guards,  in  exchange  for  a  good  suit  of 
rl^thes  which  they  stripped  from  my  shoulders." 

The  ladies,  having  indulged  their  mirth,  assumed 


VANILLO  GONZALES. 


357 


a  serious  air,  and  expressed  the  pain  they  had  felt  at 
my  confinement.  "  We  experienced  additional  mor- 
tification," said  they,  "  inasmuch  as  we,  having  per- 
suaded you  to  sell  your  lotion  and  pomade,  were  the 
original  cause  of  it." 

"  Ladies,"  replied  I,  "  if  you  did  innocently  lead 
me  into  alarming  danger,  you  have  in  recompense 
happily  released  me  from  it.  It  has  cost  me,  it  is 
true,  all  that  I  was  worth;  but  I  am  accustomed  to 
the  caprices  of  fortune." 

"  My  niece  and  I,"  replied  the  aunt,  "  sincerely 
wish  that  we  were  sufficiently  rich  to  offer  you  more 
than  you  have  lost;  but,  however  limited  our  circum- 
stances are,  we  have  at  least  enough  to  place  you  in 
the  same  situation  as  when  you  first  became  acquainted 
with  the  Grand  Inquisitor." 

Signora  Dalfa,  when  she  spoke  in  this  style, 
conceived  that  this  judge  had  only  rifled  me  of  the 
presents  I  had  received  for  embellishing  the  patients 
they  had  procured  me ;  for  I  had  never  spoken  one 
word  either  to  iier  or  her  niece  of  my  uncle's  ducats. 

"  Madam,"  replied  I,  "  this  is  carrying  generosity 
too  far,  and  I  should  abuse  your  kindness  if  I  were 
to  accept  of" 

"  For  shame,  Gonzales,"  interrupted  Bernardina, 
with  an  impulse  which  discovered  the  goodness  of 
her  heart ;  "  does  it  become  you  to  be  ceremo- 
nious with  your  friends  ?  You  shall  live  with  us. 
We  can  provide  you  with  a  small  apartment,  where 
you  will  not  be  badly  accommodated  ;  and  you  shall 
share  our  table  and  our  purse." 

This  proposal  was  made  to  me  so  graciously,  that 
I  could  not  avoid  accepting  of  it ;  besides,  it  was  not 

Y 


338  THE  HISTORY  OF 

convenient  for  a  man  with  such  a  singed  jacket  as 
mine  to  refuse  so  kind  an  offer.  I  accordingly  be- 
came a  boarder  with  my  female  friends,  with  whom  I 
sat  down  to  supper,  dressed  as  I  was.  My  burlesque 
habit,  indeed,  instead  of  being  offensive,  .became  the 
subject  of  much  occasional  merriment,  and  inspired 
them  with  pleasantries  which  heightened  the  excel- 
lency of  the  repast.  It  will  easily  be  conceived 
that  the  Holy  Inquisition  was  not  spared  by  my 
lively  friends;  and  I  must  confess  that  I  even  forgot 
the  recent  oath  I  had  taken  on  the  sacred  missal, 
while  a  variety  of  sarcastic  observations  escaped 
from  me  on  the  proceedings  of  that  tribunal;  but, 
suddenly  recollecting  myself,  I  put  the  seal  of 
silence  on  my  lips,  to  the  great  entertainment  of 
my  fair  friends:  "Hush,  Vanillo,  hush  ;  recollect  that 
you  have  promised  to  speak,  nothing  but  in  praise 
of  these  gentlemen,  whatever  cause  you  may  have 
had  to  consider  them  in  the  light  of  Barbary  cor- 
sairs, or  otherwise  to  complain  of  their  conduct."  So 
high,  indeed,  were  my  spirits  and  good-humour  dur- 
ing supper,  that  the  loss  of  my  portmanteau  seemed 
a  matter  of  perfect  indifference ;  my  heart,  however, 
sensibly  felt  this  misfortune,  and  I  could  not  recol- 
lect it  without  sending  every  inquisition  on  the  face 
of  the  earth  to  the  devil. 

Having  entertained  ourselves  for  some  time  at 
table,  each  of  us  retired  to  our  respective  apart- 
ments. I  found  in  mine  a  comfortable  bed,  instead 
of  a  cold  truss  of  straw  like  that  I  had  lain  on  in 
prison;  and  the  richness  of  the  furniture  corre- 
sponded to  the  goodness  of  the  bed:  everything 
in  the  apartment,  indeed,  did  great  honour  to  the 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  339 

taste  of  Count  Medcllin.  Having  viewed  the  several 
articles  with  pleasure,  I  undressed  myseif,  a  ceremony 
which  was  very  speedily  performed,  and  went  to  bed, 
in  hope  of  making  only  one  nap  during  the  night; 
but  contrary  to  my  expectation,  and  as  if  the  bed 
had  not  been  made  to  sleep  on,  I  never  closed  my 
eyes  until  a  quarter  of  an  hour  before  the  break  of 
day,  when,  falling  into  a  profound  repose,  I  did  not 
awake  until  long  after  the  sun  had  risen. 

About  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  door  of 
my  chamber  opened,  and  Signora  Dalfa,  attended 
by  three  men,  two  of  whom  carried  bundles  of 
clothes,  entered  the  room.  "  Signor  Gonzales,"  said 
the  lady,  "  here  is  the  most  fashionable  tailor  in 
Madrid,  who  will  show  you  a  variety  of  habits  which 
you  will  try  on."  Having  uttered  these  words,  she 
retired,  in  order  that  I  might  be  more  at  liberty; 
and  the  tailor  and  his  attendants,  without  further 
ceremony,  opened  their  packets  and  displayed  five 
or  six  new  and  rich  suits  of  clothes  quite  complete, 
and  each,  in  regular  degrees,  more  superb  than  the 
other.  There  was  one  which  particularly  pleased 
me,  and  I  chose  it,  less  from  its  magnificence,  rich  as 
it  was,  than  because  it  appeared  to  have  been  made 
on  purpose  for  me,  so  very  nicely  did  it  fit  me.  The 
tailor  also  furnished  me  with  a  sword,  a  caster  hat, 
silk  stockings,  shoes,  shirts,  and  every  other  article 
of  dress  ;  all  by  the  order  and  expense  of  my  lovely 
benefactors,  who,  notwithstanding  everything  that  I 
said  to  the  contrary,  forced  me,  in  addition  to  these 
presents,  to  accept  a  purse  of  fifty  doubloons.  Per- 
fectly satisfied  with  what  their  table  afforded,  and 
with  the  comfortable  lodging  they  had  provided  me 


34o  THE  HISTORY  OF 

with,  I  requested  they  would  stop  there,  and  permit 
me  to  depend  upon  my  own  care  and  industry  for 
the  rest. 

"Why,  truly,"  replied  Bernardina;  "it  depends 
entirely  upon  yourself  to  gain  twenty  times  as  much 
as  you  have  lost.  Continue  the  sale  of  your  lotion 
and  pomade ;  that  is  all  you  have  to  do." 

"  Egad  !  "  interrupted  I,  "  I  shall  be  very  cautious 
how  I  take  up  that  trade  again.  The  same  envy 
which  has  already  pointed  me  out  to  the  attention  of 
the  Holy  Office  will  not  fail  to  place  me  again  in  its 
hands ;  and  you  know  in  what  manner  they  will  pro- 
ceed against  a  relapse  accused  of  sorcery." 

"  Your  fears  are  just,"  replied  the  aunt ;  "  relinquish 
this  profession  to  our  management;  my  niece  and  I 
will  conduct  it  for  you  with  so  much  secrecy  and 
address,  that  you  shall  taste  the  swaets  of  it  without 
incurring  the  smallest  risk.  Teach  us  to  compound 
these  antidotes  to  age  and  ugliness,  and,  without  any 
further  trouble,  you  shall  receive  one-third  of  the 
profits." 

I  did  not  long  hesitate  to  enter  into  a  copartner- 
ship so  beneficial  to  myself;  and,  without  further  delay, 
I  not  only  gave  them  the  prescription  of  Potoschi, 
specifying  all  the  necessary  ingredients  of  the  compo- 
sition, but  instructed  them  in  the  art  by  which  they 
were  compounded — an  art  they  acquired  with  astonish- 
ing facility,  so  much  had  they  the  work  at  heart. 

After  employing  five  or  six  days  upon  this  subject, 
and  having  well  instructed  them,  they  assured  me  I 
misfht  leave  it  hereafter  to  their  own  management. 
"It  is  now  our  business,"  said  Signora  Dalfa,  "to  labour 
for  the  general  benefit  of  our  snug  concern." 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  341 

"Yes,"  replied  the  niece,  "we  will  now  exonerate 
you  from  all  further  trouble,  and  will  dispose  of  our 
production  without  your  appearing  in  the  business, 
and  render  you  a  faithful  account  of  the  profits. 
While  we  are  busy,  you  may  take  your  pleasure, 
enjoy  the  company  of  friends,  frequent  with  them 
the  fashionable  circles  of  the  capital,  or  visit  the 
theatre  as  a  dramatic  critic;  in  short,  you  may  pass 
your  time  in  the  manner  most  agreeable  to  your 
inclination  ;  and,  if  you  choose  to  return  to  your  hotel, 
we  will  not  even  insist  on  your  residing  with  us." 

"  Ladies,"  replied  I,  "  let  us  speak  candidly  to  each 
other  upon  this  subject.  It  seems  to  me  to  be  absolutely 
necessary  that  we  should  have  separate  dwellings, 
and  even  that  we  should  not  be  seen  to  have  any 
connection.  I  shail  take  occasional  opportunities  of 
visiting  you  in  the  evenings.  With  these  precautions 
we  shall  dispose  of  our  merchandise  without  anxiety, 
and  elude  the  care  and  vigilance  of  my  enemies,  who, 
without  doubt,  will  watch  my  conduct." 

My  associates  approved  of  my  advice,  and  we 
accordingly  agreed  to  separate  ;  they  in  the  resolution 
of  readorning  faces  injured  by  time,  and  I  charmed 
with  the  prospect  of  deriving  a  large  revenue  from 
the  traffic,  without  the  danger  of  being  thought  a 
party  concerned. 


342  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 

VANILLO    RETURNS     TO    HIS    HOTEL THE    CONVERSATION 

HE  HAS  WITH   HIS   HOST,  AND   THE    JOY  HE  FE  ON 

MEETING  WITH  HIS   FORMER    FRIEND    FERRARI THE 

CONSEQUENCES      WHICH    RESULTED     FROM     THIS    RE- 
NEWAL   OF    THEIR    ACQUAINTANCE. 

On  quitting  the  hospitable  roof  of  my  fair  associates 
I  directed  my  steps  towards  my  old  mansion,  that  is, 
towards  my  hotel.  My  host,  on  seeing  me,  conceived 
it  was  my  apparition.  "  Is  it  really  you,  Gonzales  ?  " 
exclaimed  he,  with  astonishment. 

"  It  is  I  myself,  my  dear  Andresillo,"  replied  I 
embracing  him.  "  You  did  not  expect  that  I  should 
so  speedily  return,  did  you?" 

"  No,  by  my  faith,"  replied  he,  "  I  did  not.  The 
Holy  Inquisition,  which  I  take  to  be  the  most  wicked 
of  the  three  wicked  holies  of  Spain,  does  not,  in 
general,  relinquish  its  prey  very  soon.  To  tell  you 
the  truth,  I  thought  you  irredeemable." 

"  Ah  !  why  so  ? "  replied  I ;  "  are  not  the  judges  of 
this  holy  tribunal  as  just  as  they  are  enlightened  ? 
Was  I  not  certain  of  being  liberated  the  moment  my 
innocence  appeared  ?  " 

"  Oh  yes !  certainly,"  replied  Andresillo  ;  "  but  have 
they  also  liberated  your  effects  ?  That  is  the  ques- 
tion here." 

"Hush,  hush,  my  friend,"  replied  I,  putting  my 
finger  to  my  mouth.  "  Do  not,  I  beg  of  you,  mention 
a  subject  which  may  induce  me  to  violate  a  silence 
which  I  must  maintain  for  the  remainder  of  my  life. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  343 

It  is  not,"  added  I,  "  that  I  am  not  thoroughly  per- 
suaded I  might  open  my  mind  to  you  without  re- 
straint." 

"  Oh,  that  you  may  with  perfect  safety,  I  assure 
you,"  replied  he ;  "  I  am  a  discreet  man,  and,  more 
than  that,  I  am  your  friend;  besides,  whatever  bad 
yon  may  tell  me  of  those  gentlemen,  I  shall  still  think 
worse.  I  once  knew,"  continued  Andresillo,  who  was 
rather  disposed  to  chatter — "  I  once  knew  a  very 
honest  gentleman  who  was  confined  three  years  in 
their  prisons  without  knowing  why  ;  and,  as  he  con- 
tinued* to  assert  his  innocence,  he  was  condemned  to 
the  flames ;  but  on  the  evening  of  the  day  appointed 
fur  his  execution,  the  dreadful  preparations  which 
were  made  for  his  punishment  appalled  his  mind,  and, 
contrary  to  the  testimony  of  his  conscience,  he  con- 
fessed himself  guilty  in  order  to  save  his  life  ;  but  it 
did  not  save  his  large  property  from  confiscation,  or 
himself  from  being  sent  for  five  years  to  the  galleys." 

Andresillo  was  in  too  good  a  train  of  talking  against 
the  Holy  Office  to  stop  here,  and  he  made  me  endure 
the  recital  of  five  or  six  other  histories,  to  the  praise 
and  glory  of  this  noble  institution,  until  at  length  I 
I  was  obliged  to  interrupt  him,  in  order  to  inquire 
whether  he  knew  what  was  become  of  my  valet. 

"  I  cannot,"  said  he,  "  give  you  the  least  informa- 
tion of  him  ;  all  I  know  is  that,  alarmed  at  your 
detention,  he  thought  it  prudent  to  decamp,  and,  to 
assist  his  flight,  he  took  away  your  mule;  in  doing 
which  he  only  anticipated  the  Holy  Office;  for,  the 
moment  after  his  departure,  a  familiar,  big  with  ex- 
pectation, came  and  demanded  it.  You  see  from  this 
circumstance  that  tbsse  officers  are  very  eager  after 


344  THE  HISTORY  OF 

theit  prey,  and  will  let  nothing  escape  them;  and  I 
am  greatly  surprised,"  added  he,  "  that  they  have  let 
you  out  with  such  good  clothes  on  your  back ;  they 
do  not  in  general  behave  so  handsomely  to  their 
prisoners." 

"  My  friend,"  said  I,  "  these  clothes  have  been 
bought  since  I  was  released  ;  those  which  I  had  on 
when  I  fell  into  their  hands  were  as  good,  but  the 
doorkeepers  of  the  Holy  Office  thought  proper  to 
appropriate  them  before  they  let  me  out." 

Andresillo,  on  hearing  these  words,  laughed  inces- 
santly for  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  but  I,  who  did  not 
feel  there  was  anything  pleasant  in  the  circumstance, 
desired  him  to  change  the  discourse.  "  Never,"  said 
I,  "  let  this  Holy  Inquisition  be  again  the  subject  of 
our  conversation.  I  have  a  deep  interest  to  preserve 
upon  this  subject.  I  intend  to  continue  my  abode 
with  you,"  added  I ;  "  are  my  apartments  vacant  ?" 

"  They  are,"  replied  my  host ;  "  you  will  find  them 
exactly  in  the  same  state  in  which  you  left  them." 

"  Have  you  as  much  evening  company  as  you  used 
to  have?"  inquired  I. 

"  More  than  ever,"  answered  Andresillo.  "  You  will 
see  a  great  number  of  new  faces." 

"  It  is  the  very  thing  I  wisln  for,"  said  I ;  "it  will 
afford  me  infinite  pleasure ;  for  there  is  nothing  de- 
lights me  more  than  a  change  of  scenes." 

The  same  evening,  indeed,  I  sat  down  to  supper 
with  many  gentlemen  who  were  unknown  to  me,  and 
with  one  that  I  well  knew,  but  whom  I  did  not  imme- 
diately recollect.  It  was  Ferrari,  the  Italian  gentle- 
man, whose  friendship  had  induced  me  to  accompaay 
him  from  Leghorn  to  the  seat  of  his  nativitv  at  Pisa, 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  345 

where  I  resided  for  some  time,  until  I  found  that  1 
made  one  too  many  in  his  family. 

Ferrari,  struck  with  my  features,  as  I  was  with  his, 
approached  me  the  moment  supper  was  over  with 
open  arms.  "  Signor  Gonzales,"  said  he,  "  permit  me, 
after  so  long  a  separation,  sincerely  to  embrace  you." 

Receiving  him  with  equal  cordiality,  we  inter- 
changed with  each  other  a  thousand  civilities,  after 
which  Ferrari,  changing  the  style  of  conversation, 
told  me  he  had  much  information  to  give  me ;  and, 
as  we  were  not  in  a  convenient  place  to  discuss  sub- 
jects of  a  private  nature,  desired  I  would  do  him  the 
favour  to  meet  him  on  the  Prado  the  ensuing  morn- 
ing at  nine  o'clock.  I  promised  to  meet  him  there  at 
the  appointed  hour,  assuring  him  that  his  desire  to 
have  a  private  conservation,  great  as  it  might  be, 
could  not  exceed  my  own.  Upon  this  we  took  leave 
of  each  other,  I  retiring  to  my  old  apartments,  and  he 
to  a  ready-furnished  lodging  in  the  neighbourhood. 

The  ensuing  morning,  eager  as  I  was  to  meet  him 
on  the  Prado,  I  was  not  the  first  there.  Ferrari  was 
waiting  for  me.  After  repeating  mutual  professions 
of  friendship,  "  Gonzales,"  said  he,  "  I  know  the  secret 
cause  of  your  departing  so  abruptly  from  Pisa ;  the 
lovely  Engracia  disclosed  it  to  me  with  her  dying 
breath." 

"  How  !  "  interrupted  I  with  equal  surprise  and 
precipitation  ;  "  is  Engracia  dead  ? " 

"  She  died,"  replied  Ferrari,  "  about  two  years  ago 
in  childbed  ;  and  her  infant  soon  afterwards  followed 
its  mother.  '  My  dear  husband,'  said  she,  while  she 
embraced  me  for  the  last  time,  'among  other  parts 
of  my  conduct  for  which,  perhaps,  I  have  occasion 


346  THE  HISTORY  OF 

to  solicit  your  forgiveness,  is  the  story  by  which  I  in- 
duced you  to  believe  that  your  friend  Gonzales  had 
betrayed  your  confidence  and  attempted  to  seduce 
my  virtue.  The  whole  of  it  was  fabrication  ;  he  never 
dishonoured,  in  any  way  that  I  know  of,  the  friend- 
ship that  you  afforded  him ;  it  was  I  who  feigned  the 
tale,  in  order  to  banish  from  my  sight  the  painful  pre- 
sence of  a  man  who  seemed  to  possess  so  much  of 
your  esteem  ;  but  I  feel,  at  this  awful  moment,  a  deep 
contrition  for  the  injustice  I  have  done  upon  this  occa- 
sion ;  and  if,  hereafter,  chance  should  cause  you  to 
meet  again,  I  charge  you  to  obtain  for  me,  if  possible, 
his  forgiveness.' " 

'  Oh  !  I  pardo»i  her  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart," 
replied  I,  smiling.  "  Jealousy  is  natural  to  the  sex. 
The  only  regret  I  feel  is  that  it  deprived  me  for  a 
time  of  your  inestimable  friendship." 

True  it  is,"  replied  Ferrari,  "the  account  my  wife 
gave  me  of  your  perfidy  inflamed  my  feelings  to  the 
highest  pitch  of  indignation;  and,  therefore,  you  will 
easily  believe  me  when  I  assure  you  that  I  felt  the 
deepest  sorrow  for  the  loss  of  your  friendship  the 
moment  I  was  undeceived." 

"  I  am  already  acquainted,"  replied  I,  "  with  the 
imposition  which  was  practised  on  you.  About  eight 
weeks  subsequent  to  my  banishment  from  Pisa,  I  met 
your  wife's  confidential  servant,  Spinetta,  at  Florence, 
and  she  told  me  in  the  same  breath  of  her  having 
quitted  the  service,  and  of  the  trick  her  mistress  had 
used  to  drive  me  from  your  house.  The  lovely  de- 
ceiver, however,  has  been  punished  too  severely  for 
so  venial  an  offence.  I  sincerely  lament  her  prema- 
ture death,  and  freely  forgive  her." 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  347 

I  then  inquired  of  Ferrari  whether  he  was  again 
married,  or  remained  a  widower. 

"  Remarried  !  "  exclaimed  he  with  surprise.  "  No, 
I  shall  hereafter  live  single.  The  condition  of  a 
widower  is  more  convenient  than  that  of  a  husband. 
I  regret  the  loss  of  Engracia ;  but  I  feel  no  tempta- 
tion to  marry  again." 

"  You  astonish  me,"  cried  I ;  "  why  adopt  such 
sentiments  ?  What  is  it  that  has  thus  prejudiced  you 
against  the  marriage  state  ?  You  perhaps  think  the 
loss  of  Engracia  irreparable." 

"  No,"  replied  Ferrari  ;  "  I  think,  if  I  were  inclined 
to  seek  a  second  union,  I  might  easily  find  a  com- 
panion equally  agreeable  even  with  Engracia ;  but, 
between  ourselves,  a  husband  has  so  many  duties  to 
fulfil,  that  it  becomes  inconvenient  to  a  man  who  loves 
his  liberty.  Engracia  and  I  loved  each  other  with 
mutual  fondness  ;  but  still  there  was  always  some- 
thing wanting  to  make  me  happy.  Disposed  by 
nature  to  conviviality,  I  now  feel  myself  at  liberty  to 
enjoy  the  company  and  conversation  of  my  friends 
without  restraint;  but  while  I  was  fondly  attached  to 
Engracia,  every  moment  of  my  life  was  anxiously 
devoted  to  please  her  alone.  Perhaps,"  added  he, 
"  you  think  differently  on  this  subject ;  perhaps  I  may 
now  be  speaking  to  a  man  who  is  at  this  moment 
actually  linked  in  the  bands  of  matrimony,  and  pos- 
sesses a  wife  who  is  the  idol  of  his  heart." 

"  No,"  replied  I  ;  "  I  am  still  a  bachelor.  Once, 
indeed,  I  had  a  fancy  to  marry,  but  my  happy  stars 
prevented  me  from  committing  that  folly;  and  I  have 
had  no  temptation  since  to  quit  a  single  life." 

These  sentiments  seemed  to  afford  satisfaction  to 


348  THE  HISTORY  OF 

Ferrari.  "  I  rejoice,"  said  he,  "  to  find  such  a  uni- 
formity in  our  dispositions.  It  shall  not  be  my  fault 
if  we  do  not  hereafter  continue  friends.  Will  you  once 
more  trust  yourself  under  my  roof?  I  have  quitted 
my  residence  at  Pisa,  and  exchanged  the  pleasures  of 
Italy  for  those  of  Spain.  My  aunt,  who  formerly 
lived  at  Montreal,  is  dead.  She  bequeathed  to  me, 
among  other  property,  a  comfortable  villa  near  Bur- 
gos, of  which  I  took  possession  about  fifteen  months 
ago,  and  on  which  I  now  entirely  reside.  I  have  the 
happiness  to  possess  the  society  of  three  or  fofir  very 
agreeable  neighbours  ;  and  if  you  will  afford  us  youi 
company,  you  will  greatly  contribute  to  increase  the 
pleasure  we  enjoy." 

The  proposal  which  this  gentleman  made  to  me,  I 
should  probably  have  declined  to  accept  of,  if  I  had 
been  still  in  the  possession  of  my  valuable  portman- 
teau ;  but,  in  the  condition  to  which  th<:  Holy  Office 
had  reduced  me,  I  considered  Ferrari's  offer  as  an 
advantage  of  which  prudence  compelled  me  to  accept; 
besides,  after  what  I  had  experienced,  I  was  not  sorry 
to  absent  myself  from  Madrid,  at  least  for  some  time. 
I  accordingly  promised  Ferrari  that  I  would  return 
with  him  to  Burgos.  "  All  I  fear,  my  friend,"  said  I, 
"  is,  that  you  may  once  more  take  a  fancy  for  matri- 
mony, and  that  your  second  wife  may,  like  the  first, 
prove  fatal  to  our  friendship." 

"  Oh ! "  replied  he,  "  you  have  nothing  to  appre- 
hend on  that  subject.  I  am  sick  of  wives.  The 
reluctance  I  entertain  to  matrimony  will  prevent  me 
from  taking  any  woman  as  a  wife.  Bright  as  female 
charms  may  appear  to  shine  around  the  charaf^r 
of  any  particular  female,  I  shall  never  suffer  i  y  mind 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  349 

to  be  so  dazzled  by  them  as  to  imagine  her  entirely- 
faultless.  Spots  are  discoverable  even  in  the  sun. 
Where  is  the  woman  to  be  found  who  is  perfectly 
good-tempered,  and  entirely  free  from  whim  ?  Peauti- 
ful  appearances  ought  to  induce  the  most  distrust; 
for  they  frequently  conceal  the  greatest  defects. 
Engracia,  for  example,  my  adored  wife  Engracia, 
appeared,  when  I  married  her,  to  possess  angelic 
mildness.  The  winning  softness  of  her  manners 
charmed  me ;  but,  ceasing  soon  to  follow  the  re- 
straints which  had  adorned  her  character,  she 
discovered  a  disposition  naturally  impetuous  and 
violent ;  and,  worse  than  all  the  rest,  became,  when- 
ever she  was  contradicted,  a  little  devil.  In  short, 
it  was  Engracia  who  caused  my  feelings  to  revolt 
against  the  state  of  matrimony ;  and,  therefore,  you 
may  rely  with  confidence  upon  my  assurance,  that 
the  torch  of  Hymen  will  never  again  light  me  to 
the  altar." 

"The  confidence  which  these  sentiments  excite," 
said  I,  "prevent  any  further  hesitation.  I  am  ready 
to  depart  whenever  you  please." 

"I  shall  leave  Madrid  immediately,"  replied  my 
friend  ;  "  I  visited  the  metropolis  merely  to  behold 
the  court  of  a  Catholic  king;  and,  having  seen  and 
admired  its  magnificence,  my  curiosity  is  satisfied. 
A  carriage  and  three  excellent  mules  await  my  orders 
at  the  hotel  where  I  lodge ;  and  to-morrow,  if  agree- 
able, we  will  proceei  to  Burgos." 

"  With  all  my  heart,"  replied  I,  "  provided  you 
have  no  objection  to  permit  a  person  who  has  but 
recently  escaped  from  the  prisons  of  the  Holy  Office, 
to  become  your  companion." 


35o  THE  HISTORY  OF 

Ferrari  started  back  with  horror  as  I  uttered 
these  words.  "What  do  you  say?"  cried  he.  "O 
Heavens!  explain  yourself  immediately.  Have  you 
had  the  misfortune  to  behold  the  horrible  dungeons 
of  the  Holy  Inquisition  ?" 

"I  was  there  not  long  ago,"  replied  I;  "but  I 
shall  remember  them  while  life  exists." 

"And  what  occasion,"  replied  he,  "could  you 
have  given  to  that  tribunal  to  arrest  you  ?  Do  me 
tiie  favour  to  relate  to  me  the  particulars  of  this 
adventure." 

Ferrari  listened  to  the  faithful  narrative  which 
I  gave  of  this  transaction  with  extreme  attention; 
sometimes  exhibiting  emotions  of  pity  and  indigna- 
tion, and  at  others  bursting  into  laughter,  from 
which  it  was  impossible  he  should  refrain.  Having 
concluded,  "  I  should  have  found  this  history  rather 
entertaining,"  said  he,  "if  your  portmanteau  had 
been  restored;  but  what  could  you  expect?  Con- 
fiscation is  the  primary  object  of  every  inquisition. 
You  would  not  have  been  better  treated  by  our 
Italian  tribunals.  After  such  a  disaster,  you  will 
feel  great  consolation  in  quitting  Madrid." 

"  I  shall  make  no  further  objection  to  bear  you 
company,"  said  I.  "  I  wish  we  were  now  at  Burgos, 
where,  not  being  known  by  any  person,  I  shall  run 
no  risk  of  having  the  finger  of  scorn  pointed  at  me  as 
I  walk  along." 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  ^i 


CHAPTER  XLV. 

VANILLO  TAKES  LEAVE  OF  HIS  TWO  ASSOCIATES,  S/GNORA 
DALFA  AND  BERNARDINA,  AND  GOES  FROM  MADRID 
TO  BURGOS. 

CAREFUL,  as  you  will  easily  conceive,  not  to  leave 
Madrid  without  bidding  adieu  to  my  associates,  I 
paid  them  a  visit  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening,  and 
informed  them  that,  having  accidentally  met  an  old 
friend  who  was  inclined  to  take  me  with  him  to 
Burgos,  we  had  agreed  to  set  off  early  on  the 
ensuing  morning. 

"  Ah,"  replied  Signora  Dalfa,  "  your  mind,  I  per- 
ceive, is  continually  alarmed.  Your  fears,  however, 
are  without  foundation  ;  you  might  remain  in  Madrid 
with  perfect  safety,  and  enjoy  its  pleasures  with  ease 
and  affluence.  But  I  am  conscious  all  the  eloquence 
I  possess  would  be  vainly  exerted  in  attempting  to 
dissuade  you  from  this  unnecessary  flight.  Indulge, 
therefore,  these  fears.  Repair  to  Burgos,  or  to  any 
other  place  you  please,  and  assure  yourself,  that  in 
whatever  quarter  of  the  globe  you  may  reside,  we 
will  render  you  a  faithful  account  of  all  the  profits  of 
our  copartnership." 

Bernardina  confirmed  the  promise  of  her  aunt, 
and  insisted  on  advancing  me,  until  the  joint  fund 
should  accumulate,  a  hundred  pistoles  on  account. 
Thanking  my  fair  friend  for  this  kind  accommodation, 
and  interchanging  reciprocal  professions  of  friendship 
and   esteem,   I   returned    to   the  hotel    to    sup  with 


352  THE  HISTORY  Ot 

Ferrari,  who  desired  me,  when  we  parted,  to  hold 
myself  in  readiness  to  depart  early  on  the  ensuing 
morning — a  request  with  which  I  did  not  fail  to 
comply  ;  and,  just  as  the  morning  sun  was  beginning 
to  shoot  his  beams  above  the  horizon,  an  elegant 
carriage,  drawn  by  two  fine  mules,  driven  by  a 
postillion,  and  attended  by  a  valet  on  a  third  mule, 
appeared  at  the  gate,  in  which  we  deposited  a  large 
trunk  containing  Ferrari's  clothes,  and  a  small  cloak- 
bag  enclosing  the  linen  that  the  ladies  had  presented 
to  me,  and  proceeded  towards  Burgos.  We  slept 
the  first  night  at  Paular,  the  second  at  Aranda,  and 
the  third  at  Valladolid ;  where  we  continued  two 
days,  to  behold  a  city  which  had  been  so  frequently 
honoured  by  the  residence  of  royalty  ;  and,  on  the 
fifth  day  afterwards,  happily  arrived  at  the  villa  of 
Ferrari,  which  was  situated  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
from  Burgos,  near  the  plains  of  Honoria. 

The  villa  of  Ferrari,  if  it  offered  nothing  superb 
to  the  view,  convinced  the  observer,  at  least,  that  it 
was  not  in  Chancery;  for  its  condition  was  excellent; 
and,  what  pieased  me  better,  the  estate  belonging  to 
it  had  the  reputation  of  producing  to  its  owner  six 
thousand  ducats  a  year.  The  inside  was  perfectly 
correspondent  to  its  external  appearance  ;  the  furni- 
ture and  other  ornaments,  though  not  magnificent, 
were  elegant,  and  of  the  best  kind.  The  gardens 
and  ornamented  pleasure-grounds  were  situated  in 
the  middle  of  a  park  sufficiently  extensive  to  afford 
even  the  amusements  of  the  chase.  A  spot  better 
suited  to  the  then  disposition  of  my  mind  could  not 
have  been  selected  ;  for,  although  I  had  no  reason 
any  longer  to  dread  the  Inquisition,  I  felt,  from  time 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  353 

to  time,  in  spite  of  all  my  endeavours  to  suppress  the 
painful  apprehensions,  as  if  familiars  were  continually 
at  my  heels.  I  lived,  in  short,  the  life  of  a  hare. 
Suppressing,  however,  the  perturbation  of  my  mind, 
I  assumed  a  gay  and  easy  manner,  and  by  this 
means  rendered  myself  agreeable  to  all  Ferrari's 
friends.  Among  others,  there  were  two  gentlemen 
who,  though  they  possessed  very  opposite  characters, 
were  particularly  partial  to  me,  and  I  confess  that  I 
was  equally  pleased  with  them.  Both  these  gentle- 
men, Don  Sebastian  de  Rodillas  and  Don  Mathias 
de  Grajal,  resided  in  the  vicinity  of  Burgos,  and  were 
nearly  of  the  same  ages,  that  is,  from  thirty-five  to 
forty,  rich  in  honour,  and  poor  in  wealth.  Living 
upon  the  produce  of  their  small  estates,  they  sup- 
ported, by  good  management  and  economy,  the 
characters  of  gentlemen  with  equal  decency  and 
pride.  Unable  to  treat  their  friends  sumptuously, 
they  contrived  to  supply  the  deficiencies  of  luxury  by 
the  more  refined  pleasures  of  the  intellect,  and  were 
men  of  high  spirit  and  agreeable  conversation.  Don 
Sebastian  possessed  a  talent  of  writing  songs,  and 
setting  them  himself  to  music  ;  and  Don  Mathias 
had  the  happy  art  of  relating  anecdotes  and  telling 
stories  in  a  way  exquisitely  lively  and  humorous.  It 
was  impossible,  in  short,  to  be  dejected  in  their 
company.  Ferrari,  however,  who  was  extremely 
happy  in  having  two  such  gentlemen  for  his  neigh- 
bours, generally  entertained  us  at  his  own  house, 
though  we  sometimes  visited  them. 

One  day,  while  we  were  dining  at  Don  Sebastian's 
house,  a  young  man,  with  a  large  pilgrim's  staff  in 
his  hand,  his  clothes  all  torn,  and  his  beard  long  and 

Z 


354  THE  HISTORY  OF 

black,  entered  the  room.  The  sight  of  him  im- 
mediately brought  my  sortie  from  the  Inquisition, 
in  my  singed  jacket,  to  my  recollection  ;  but  Don 
Sebastian,  notwithstanding  his  appearance,  no  sooner 
observed  him,  than  he  exclaimed,  "  Heavenly  God  ! 
it  is  my  brother,  Don  Joachim  ;  I  know  him  in  spite 
of  his  tattered  clothes  and  unshaven  beard." 

"Yes,  my  brother,"  replied  the  young  man,  "it  is 
Don  Joachim  who  stands  before  you  ;  but  do  not  be 
surprised  at  seeing  me  in  this  condition.  A  poor 
devil  who  returns  from  Barbary  after  a  captivity  of 
five  years,  cannot  well  make  a  better  appearance/' 

"  Whatever  may  be  the  cause  of  your  deplorable 
situation,"  replied  Don  Sebastian,  "  I  return  my 
thanks  a  thousand  and  a  thousand  times  to  Heaven 
for  restoring  you  to  my  arms." 

In  uttering  these  words,  he  rose  with  transports 
from  the  table  to  embrace  his  brother,  who,  on  his 
side,  showed  the  correspondent  joy  which  over- 
whelmed his  heart. 

When  the  fond  transports  of  fraternal  affection 
had  in  some  degree  subsided,  Don  Sebastian  pre- 
sented Don  Joachim  to  Ferrari,  to  Don  Mathias,  and 
to  myself.  We  saluted  him  with  cordiality ;  and, 
on  congratulating  him  on  his  return  to  Burgos,  soon 
discovered,  from  the  answers  he  made  to  our  con- 
gratulations, that  he  was  by  no  means  deficient  in 
understanding. 

On  his  taking  his  seat  at  the  table,  we  expected  to 
behold  a  famished  traveller,  who  would  have  eagerly 
devoured  the  victuals  with  which  it  was  covered  ; 
but,  on  the  contrary,  he  preserved  the  greatest 
temperance,  and  scarcely  ate  three  mouthfuls. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  355 

Ferrari,  astonished  at  this  circumstance,  said  to 
him,  "For  a  man  who  appears  to  have  travelled  far, 
I  wonder  you  have  not  a  better  appetite." 

"  It  is  true,"  said  Don  Sebastian ;  "  I  have  been 
observing  it  with  surprise." 

"My  dear  brother,"  replied  Don  Joachim,  "you 
must  attribute  it  to  the  joy  I  feel  at  this  moment  in 
seeing  you  again — a  moment  which  I  have  so  long 
and  so  ardently  desired." 

"A  moment,"  replied  Don  Sebastian,  "which  I 
also  have  long  and  ardently  wished  for.  It  is  now 
seven  years  since  you  departed  from  this  house  to 
go  to  Compostella,  with  an  intention  to  perform  at 
the  shrine  of  its  tutelary  saint  the  vow  you  made 
during  your  dangerous  illness  ;  and  since  that  day  I 
ha*'e  never  heard  of  you.  What  prevented  your 
return  ?  What  have  you  been  doing  during  this  long 
interval  ?     From  what  place  did  you  last  come  ? " 

"  From  Algiers,"  replied  Don  Joachim;  "that  city 
so  fatal  to  Christians,  and  which  may  be  justly  styled 
the  abode  of  cruelty.  I  have,  however,  drunk  less 
from  the  bitter  cup  of  adversity  than  many  others, 
as  you  will  perceive  when  I  have  an  opportunity  of 
relating  to  you  the  circumstances  of  my  story." 

"You  may  speak  without  reserve  before  these 
gentlemen,"  said  Don  Sebastian. 

"Yes,"  replied  Don  Mathias,  "you  are  now  in  the 
retreat  of  friendship.  Relate  to  us  the  history  of 
your  adventures.  You  cannot  have  an  audience 
more  interested  in  your  happiness." 

"  I  will  then,"  replied  Don  Joachim,  "  relate  to  you 
the  extraordinary  circumstances  of  my  captivity." 

And  he  immediately  began  in  the  following  man- 
ner : — 


356  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER  XLVI. 

THE   HISTORY  OF  DON  JOACHIM  DB  R0D1LLAS. 

WHILE  I  was  proceeding  to  the  shrine  of  the  saint 
to  fulfil  my  vow,  I  overtook,  upon  the  frontiers  of 
Galicia,  a  young  pilgrim  of  nearly  the  same  age  with 
myself,  who  was  going  to  Compostella  with  the  like 
intention.  Politely  saluting  each  other,  we  engaged 
in  conversation  with  all  the  unsuspecting  confidence 
of  youth  ;  and,  after  acquainting  him  that  I  came 
from  Burgos,  and  learning  in  return  that  he  was  a 
native  of  the  Asturias  de  Santellana,  we  reciprocally 
communicated  to  each  other  the  objects  of  our  jour- 
ney, and  agreed  to  perform  the  pious  ceremony  to- 
gether. Proceeding  accordingly  to  the  shrine  of  St. 
Jacques,  we  fulfilled  our  respective  vows,  and  accom- 
panied each  other  back  on  the  same  road  we  had 
travelled,  with  an  intention  of  returning  to  our  several 
homes.  On  our  arrival  at  Porta-Ferrada,  it  became 
necessary  to  take  different  routes  ;  but  a  certain  sym- 
pathy had  linked  our  hearts  so  strongly  together  that 
we  had  not  resolution  to  part.  "  I  cannot  tell,"  said 
my  young  companion,  "  whether  you  feel  any  reluct- 
ance to  separate,  but  I  must  candidly  confess  that 
the  idea  of  parting  gives  me  great  pain." 

I  assured  my  companion  that  I  could  make  the 
same  declaration  with  equal  sincerity ;  that  his  polite 
manners  and  lively  conversation  had  won  my  heart; 
and  that  I  felt  a  deeper  sorrow  at  the  idea  of  losing 
his  agreeable  company  than  I  was  able  to  express, 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  357 

"  If  that  be  the  case,"  replied  he,  "there  can  be  no 
reason  why  we  should  bid  each  other  adieu.  Let  us 
still  enjoy  the  pleasure  of  each  other's  company,  and 
make  an  excursion  together  through  Spain.  Come, 
let  us  unite  our  fortunes  and  indulge  a  truant  dis- 
position; the  natural  levity  of  youth  will  excuse  this 
frolic  to  our  families." 

A  proposal  which  opened  to  me  the  prospect  of 
enjoying  the  company  of  a  friend  and  indulging  the 
curiosity  of  my  mind,  was  not,  as  you  will  readily 
conceive,  very  disagreeable  to  me  ;  and  I  told  the 
young  Asturian  that  I  would  instantly  accede  to  it 
if  1  had  been  better  supplied  with  those  pecuniary 
resources  which  such  a  scheme  would  unavoidably 
require;  that  I  was  unfortunately  dependent  on  the 
bounty  of  an  elder  brother,  who,  being  born  four  or 
five  years  before  me,  was  in  possession  of  the  family 
estate,  and  had  given  me  but  a  scanty  supply  for  the 
purpose  of  my  then  expedition  ;  and  that  I  had  only 
three  pistoles  left  to  carry  me  back  to  Burgos. 

"  My  finances,"  replied  the  Asturian,  "  would  have 
been  in  a  condition  equally  low  if  I  had  merely 
trusted  to  the  generosity  of  the  old  miser,  my  father; 
but,  apprehensive  that  1  might  want  more  money 
than  he  might  think  proper  to  supply  me  with,  I 
prudently  took  care  to  provide  myself  with  an  addi- 
tional sum,  by  secretly  purloining  from  his  hoards 
a  purse  containing  fifty  doubloons;  and,  by  the 
assistance  of  this  fund,  we  shall  be  enabled  to  reach 
Salamanca,  where  we  shall  have  leisure  to  consider 
of  the  measures  it  may  be  most  advisable  for  us  to 
take  in  further  prosecution  of  our  design." 

Blamable  as  the  conduct  of  the  Asturian  certainly 


358  THE  HISTORY  OF 

was,  I  could  not  help  applauding  his  precaution;  and 
immediately  determining  to  prosecute  our  wild  pro- 
ject, we  directed  our  course  towards  Salamanca.  I 
am  at  a  loss  to  guess  why  we  preferred  this  city  to 
any  other,  if  it  was  not  on  account  of  its  university, 
which  we  had  frequently  heard  of  and  wished  to  see. 
On  arriving  at  Salamanca,  we  hired  apartments  at  a 
fashionable  hotel,  where  my  companion  sent  for  a 
taiior,  to  rid  him  of  his  pilgrim's  garment,  and  to 
furnish  him  with  the  dress  of  a  cavalier  in  the  style 
of  that  which  I  then  wore.  We  also  purchased  linen 
and  other  articles  for  our  immediate  use.  These 
disbursements  occasioned  a  melancholy  decrease  in 
our  funds ;  but,  in  lieu  of  money,  we  had  the  satis- 
faction to  see  ourselves  equipped  in  the  style  of  two 
young  noblemen  ;  and,  after  staying  four  days  to  see 
everything  worthy  of  observation  in  this  city,  we 
hastily  took  our  leave,  and  on  the  ensuing  morning 
directed  our  course,  Capuchin  fashion,  towards  Madrid, 
to  judge  for  ourselves  whether  the  magnificence  of 
the  Spanish  court  equalled  the  superb  idea  we  had 
conceived  of  it ;  each  of  us  carrying  by  turns,  on  our 
shoulders,  the  cloak-bag  which  contained  our  linen. 
Just  as  we  were  entering  the  village  of  Alda  Luenga, 
we  heard  a  jingling  of  bells  behind  us,  which  we 
found  proceeded  from  three  mules  which  a  muleteer 
was  conducting,  and  two  of  which  were  unoccupied. 
When  the  muleteer  came  near  us,  we  asked  him 
where  he  was  going.  "  To  Madrid,"  said  he.  "  And 
how  much  will  you  take,"  said  I,  "  to  convey  two 
young  truants  who  are  short  of  cash  ?" 

"Masters,"  replied  the  muleteer,  "you  shall   give 
me  what  you  please.     Two  of  my  mules  are  empty, 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  359 

and  I  have  no  objection  to  your  talcing  advantage  of 
it."  We  accordingly  mounted  the  mules,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  Villaflor,  on  the  borders  of  Old  Castile, 
where  we  slept. 

Our  first  care,  on  entering  the  inn,  was  to  order 
a  g"ood  supper ;  and  the  host  conceiving  that  we  were 
enabled  to  pay  well,  executed  our  orders  with  great 
alacrity.  When  supper  was  ready,  we  were  so  satis- 
fied with  the  behaviour  of  the  muleteer,  that  we 
insisted  on  his  partaking  of  the  treat ;  and  we  all 
sat  down  to  a  ragout  of  rabbits,  which  I  tasted  at 
first  with  some  reluctance,  apprehending  it  might 
be  made  of  some  other  animal  ;  but  the  muleteer 
pledged  himself  for  the  host's  honesty,  and  upon 
his  warranty  we  ate  unnauseated,  as  it  we  had  been 
famished.  The  ensuing  morning  we  continued  our 
journey  in  the  same  manner,  and  arrived  the  day 
after  at  Madrid,  where  the  young  Asturian  presented 
the  muleteer  with  a  double  pistole  for  our  con- 
veyance ;  but,  muleteer  as  he  was,  he  generously 
refused  it,  saying,  "he  could  not  think  of  taking 
money  from  gentlemen  who  had  treated  him  so 
handsomely  on  the  road." 

Quitting  this  disinterested  mule-driver,  and  inquir- 
ing for  the  court-end  of  the  town,  we  went,  according 
to  the  directions  we  received,  to  a  hotel  of  elegant 
appearance,  the  master  of  which  showed  us  himself 
to  the  apartments  he  allotted  us  ;  and,  you  may 
easily  conceive,  that,  as  we  were  without  servant? 
or  equipage,  they  were  not  the  best  in  the  house  ; 
they  were  neat,  however,  and  sufficiently  commo- 
dious to  satisfy  persons  much  more  difficult  than 
we  were. 


36o  THE  HISTORY  OF 

The  host,  curious  to  learn  who  we  were,  inquired, 
while  he  bowed  and  begged  pardon  for  taking  so 
great  a  liberty,  into  our  motives  for  visiting  Madrid; 
and  no  sooner  was  he  told  that  we  had  come  merely 
to  gratify  a  desire  we  had  long  felt  to  see  this  first 
city  in  the  world,  than  he  exclaimed,  "  God  be  thanked, 
my  noble  young  gentlemen,  you  have  good  reason  to 
call  it  so,  for  there  is  no  place  comparable  to  Madrid; 
besides,  the  Catholic  sovereigns  generally  choose  it 
for  their  residence.  Yes,"  continued  he  with  enthu- 
siasm, "  the  royal  palace  alone,  and  the  marvellous 
things  it  contains,  deservedly  brings  travellers  to 
admire  them  from  all  the  extremities  of  the  globe. 
You  will  be  charmed,  for  instance,  when  you  behold 
the  Arsenal,  which  is  one  hundred  paces  long  ;  the 
wardrobes  of  Charles  the  Fifth,  and  his  successors, 
the  three  Philips ;  you  cannot  conceive  the  quantities 
of  gold  and  silver  arms  which  are  there  preserved, 
together  with  pistols,  darts,  and  horse-trappings  of 
various  kinds;  but,  above  all,  you  will  be  enchanted 
when  you  see  the  six  men  on  horseback  covered  with 
emeralds,  which  Emanuel,  Duke  of  Savoy,  presented 
to  Philip  the  Second.  If  there  were  nothing  else  in 
Madrid  worthy  of  your  observation,  you  will  not 
regret  your  journey." 

The  host,  who  loved  to  be  talking,  having  described 
to  us  all  the  curiosities  of  Madrid,  intimated  that  it 
was  near  supper-time,  and  we  desired  him  to  roast  a 
partridge  and  a  young  rabbit  as  soon  as  possible. 
He  not  only  executed  this  order  with  great  expedition, 
but  waited  on  us  himself  during  the  repast,  and  obliged 
us  to  listen  to  a  tedious  description  of  the  beauties  of 
thecityand  its  surrounding  territory;  in  which,  deficient 


VAN1LL0  GONZALES.  36~i 

as  he  was  of  the  talent  of  embellishing-  the  objects  he 
attempted  to  paint,  he  did  not  fail  to  excite  our 
impatience  to  behold  these  wonders  of  the  world. 

The  ensuing  day  had  scarcely  dawned  when  we 
arose  from  our  beds,  and  dressing  ourselves  with  as 
much  haste  as  if  we  had  not  a  moment  to  lose,  we 
issued  from  the  hotel  with  eager  curiosity  and  pro- 
ceeded to  hear  mass  at  the  church  of  our  Lady  of 
Almudena,  so  called  from  the  statue  of  a  saint  which 
is  said  to  have  been  brought  from  the  Holy  Land 
by  St.  James  of  Compostella.  We  next  visited  the 
market-place,  celebrated  by  the  battles  of  the  bull 
which  are  there  exhibited  ;  and,  struck  by  the  mag- 
nificence of  the  buildings  which  surround  it,  we 
stopped  to  examine  with  attention  the  Consistorio, 
or  palace,  which  the  King  occupies  when  he  is  pre- 
sent at  the  games.  This  royal  edifice  and  the  other 
superb  structures  which  surround  it,  prepossessed  our 
minds  so  warmly  in  favour  of  the  capital  of  the  mon- 
archy, that  every  object  excited  admiration. 

"  What  superb  buildings  ! "  cried  my  comrade, 
stopping  at  every  noble  mansion  we  passed.  "  I  per- 
ceive we  are  not  now  in  a  provincial  town  ;  observe 
those  shops,  what  immense  riches  they  contain  !  and 
the  traders,  how  grave  they  appear  !  Do  you  not  per- 
ceive in  them  a  dignified  demeanour  which  the  mer- 
chants of  other  places  do  not  possess?  They  have 
the  air  of  Roman  citizens." 

After  passing  a  month  in  traversing  the  different 
quarters  of  this  immense  metropolis, — sometimes  visit- 
ing the  most  celebrated  churches  and  examining  their 
respective  curiosities  ;  sometimes  walking  in  the  park 
of  Buen  Retiro, which  is  filledwitho^triche^.cr-rrr1  ---<; 


362  THE  HISTORY  OF 

bears,  and  other  aerial  and  terrestrial  animals  ;  attend- 
ing almost  every  morning  the  royal  levee,  where  the 
prepossessions  of  our  mind  attributed  to  certain  great 
men  a  degree  of  respectability  which  nature  had  re- 
fused,— the  contents  of  our  purse  were  so  nearly  ex- 
hausted that  we  began  to  be  seriously  uneasy. 

Our  inquietude,  however,  was  not  of  long  duration  ; 
for,  being  informed  that  government  was  upon  the 
point  of  sending  recruits  to  Lombardy,  we  imme- 
diately adopted  the  gallant  resolution  to  serve  the 
King;  the  Asturian  rather  choosing  to  take  this  course 
than  to  return  home  and  endure  the  reproaches  and, 
perhaps,  even  the  cruel  treatment  of  his  father  ;  and  I 
feeling  no  inclination  to  quit  the  company  of  a  friend 
who  was  become  so  agreeable  to  me.  Determined, 
therefore,  to  try  our  fortunes  in  the  fields  of  war,  we 
procured  the  address  of  the  commanding  officer,  whose 
name  was  Don  Pompeio  Torbellino,  and  whose  mar- 
tial mien  bespoke  him  a  man  who  had  seen  hard  ser- 
vice. Torbellino  received  us  very  graciously  ;  and 
the  moment  he  heard  we  had  resolved  to  devote  our 
lives  to  the  service  of  the  state,  he  exhibited  as  lively 
a  joy  as  if  we  had  been  veterans  crowned  with  victory. 
"  My  young  friends,"  said  he,  "  I  am  glad  to  find  you 
in  possession  of  these  heroic  sentiments;  you  appear 
to  be  gentlemen  of  birth  and  family.  To  such  noble 
characters  as  you  are  the  road  of  glory  is  principally 
opened.  On  you  it  is  that  the  monarchy  relies  for  its 
best  support ;  you  cannot  begin  too  early  the  noble 
profession  of  arms." 

The  recruiting  officer  having  made  this  harangue, 
gave  us  ten  pistoles  each,  made  us  sign  our  enrol- 
ment, and  then  told  us  we  must  be  ready  to  depart 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  363 

in:  three  days  for  Barcelona,  where  two  transports 
were  lying  to  convey  us,  with  other  soldiers  lately 
levied,  to  Italy.  So  far  were  we  from  regretting 
our  enrolment,  that  we  congratulated  each  other 
on  the  measure;  and  when  the  day  of  our  departure 
arrived,  we  marched  gaily  towards  Barcelona,  in 
company  with  nearly  five  hundred  other  young  men, 
all  eager  to  support  the  honour  of  our  king  and 
country ;  sleeping  contentedly  at  night  in  barns 
and  outhouses,  on  beds  of  straw,  and  eating  heartily 
by  day  the  rations  of  bread  allowed  for  our  support. 
The  frugality  of  our  meals  did  not  interrupt  the 
gaiety  of  our  march ;  and,  on  our  arrival  at  Bar- 
celona, finding  the  transports  ready,  we  immediately 
embarked,  threatening,  in  acclamations  of  joy,  ven- 
geance against  the  enemies  we  were  sailing  to  con- 
quer. The  winds  continued  favourable  the  whole 
of  the  voyage,  and  conveyed  us  to  the  port  of  Genoa, 
where  we  did  not  long  remain,  for  we  were  instantly 
disembarked,  and  marched  into  the  Milanese,  to  join 
the  troops  under  the  command  of  Count  Monterey. 
The  young  Asturian  and  I  were  invested  with  the 
uniform  of  the  regiment,  and  made  extremely  happy 
by  being  enrolled  with  each  other  in  the  same 
company. 

You,  no  doubt,  gentlemen,  continued  Don  Joachim, 
expect  to  hear  me  relate  some  gallant  victory  gained 
over  our  enemies,  but  I  have  no  such  account  to 
give  you  ;  for,  besides  serving  under  a  general  whose 
prudence  degenerated  into  timidity,  or.  to  express 
it  better,  who  seemed  to  have  received  orders  to 
avoid  every  opportunity  of  fighting,  an  accident  hap- 
pened which  totally  changed  the  nature  of  my  situa- 


364  THE  HISTORY  OF 

tion.  My  companion,  who  was  extremely  fond 
of  disputation,  entered  one  day  into  an  alterca- 
tion with  a  soldier  in  the  same  regiment :  the 
dispute  terminated  in  a  quarrel ;  and  it  was  resolved 
to  settle  the  difference  two  against  two,  at  the  point 
of  the  sword.  The  Asturian  chose  me  for  his  second, 
and  his  adversary  was  attended  by  a  young  man  of 
his  acquaintance.  We  retired  privately  to  the  place 
appointed,  where  I  endeavoured,  by  every  effort  in 
my  power,  to  reconcile  the  parties;  but,  instead  of 
pacifying  their  minds,  I  only  irritated  them  more 
violently  against  each  other,  and  we  were  obliged  to 
begin  the  combat.  A  mortal  thrust  soon  laid  my 
friend  dead  at  the  feet  of  his  adversary,  a  circum- 
stance which  raised  my  feelings  to  such  a  pitch  of 
fury,  that,  after  having  killed  my  antagonist,  I  had 
the  gratification  of  revenging  the  Asturian's  death 
by  running  his  victor  through  the  heart. 

The  combat  was  scarcely  over  before  three  soldiers 
of  the  same  regiment,  who  had  entertained  some 
suspicion  of  our  design,  appeared  on  the  field  of 
battle,  with  intent  to  prevent  the  mischief;  but,  per- 
ceiving they  had  come  too  late,  they  assisted  me  in 
burying  the  dead  in  a  large  hole  which  we  found  in 
the  corner  of  an  adjoining  meadow,  and  returned 
with  i  le  to  the  camp,  as  if  nothing  extraordinary 
had  happened. 

This  achievement,  however,  was  soon  rumoured 
through  the  regiment,  and  reaching  the  ear  of  the 
colonel  of  my  regiment,  he  expressed  a  great  desire 
to  see  me.  Presenting  myself  before  him  in  a  firm 
but  respectful  manner,  he  appeared  struck  by  my 
person  and  address.     "Young  man,"  said  he,  "your 


VAN1LL0  GONZALES.  365 

appearance,  and  the  care  you  take  to  conceal  your- 
self, betrays  your  birth.  Answer  me  sincerely.  Are 
you  not  of  noble  extraction  ?  Do  not  imagine  that 
I  mean  to  reproach  you  for  having  enlisted  into  the 
army.  The  condition  of  a  common  soldier  cannot 
dishonour  you,  even  if  you  are  descended  from  the 
most  illustrious  family  in  Spain.  Speak  with  con- 
fidence. From  whence  do  you  come,  and  who  are 
your  relations  ? " 

Not  feeling  myself  bound  to  create  any  mystery 
respecting  my  origin,  I  revealed  my  story  with  frank- 
ness and  fidelity  ;  and  the  colonel,  who  had  listened 
to  my  tale  with  anxious  attention,  exclaimed,  "  I  re- 
joice extremely  in  having  discovered  your  character 
through  its  present  disguise  ;  I  feel  myself  interested 
in  your  fortunes,  and  will  take  you  under  my  protec- 
tion." 

I  was  about  to  express  my  gratitude,  but  he  inter- 
rupted me.  "  Yes,"  continued  he,  "  you  may  rely  on 
being  advanced  the  first  vacancy." 

The  colonel,  being  related  to  the  illustrious  house 
of  Ponce  de  Leon,  was,  of  course,  a  man  of  the  first 
distinction  ;  and,  congratulating  myself  on  having 
gained  so  powerful  a  patron,  I  waited  in  silent  expec- 
tation of  being  promoted  from  the  condition  of  a 
common  soldier  to  the  rank  of  a  subaltern  officer. 

The  loss  of  my  Asturian  friend  was  soon  supplied 
by  another,  whose  agreeable  talents,  and  particularly 
his  great  skill  on  the  guitar,  had  gained  wy  attention 
and  esteem.  This  instrument  he  touched  with  such 
exquisite  taste  and  happy  execution,  that  he  quite 
charmed  all  who  heard  him,  especially  when  he 
accompanied  it  with  his  melodious  voice.     His  merit 


366  THE  HISTORY  OP 

acquired  him,  throughout  the  whole  army,  the  name 
of  the  Nezv  Orpheus.  We  attached  ourselves  closely 
to  each  other,  and  were  almost  continually  together; 
and,  as  he  perceived  that  my  ear  was  good  and  my 
voice  improvable,  he  instructed  me  so  industriously 
in  the  science  of  music,  and  in  the  art  of  playing  the 
guitar,  that,  at  the  end  of  six  months,  I  became  so 
great  a  proficient,  that  I  began  to  acquire  the  atten- 
tion of  the  soldiers,  and  to  partake  of  the  applauses 
they  bestowed  upon  my  master. 

The  Count  de  Monterey,  our  general,  v*ho,  I  have 
already  noticed,  was  not  prodigal  of  our  blood,  having 
continued  inactive  for  ten  months,  received  orders  to 
send  fifteen  hundred  of  his  troops  back  to  Spain,  to 
strengthen  the  army  which  was  assembled  at  Aragon, 
under  the  command  of  the  Marquis  de  Los  Velos,  for 
the  purpose  of  preventing  an  expected  insurrection 
in  Catalonia,  and  I  had  the  happiness  to  be  one  of 
those  who  were  drafted  for  this  expedition.  We 
arrived  at  Rousillon,  and  joined,  near  Tortosa,  the 
Spanish  army,  which  consisted  of  fifteen  thousand 
men. 

Catalonia  was  already  in  a  state  of  insurrection  ; 
but  the  Marquis  de  Los  Velos  attacking,  with  great 
violence,  a  large  body  of  the  insurgents,  who  had 
hoped  success  from  their  advantageous  position,  put 
them  to  flight,  and  penetrating  with  rapidity  into 
the  country,  he  determined  to  take  Cambriel,  a  small 
town  which  the  Catalans  had  hastily  fortified  as  a 
depot  for  their  arms  and  ammunition.  The  besieged 
resisted  the  summons  to  surrender  in  such  firm  and 
decisive  terms,  that  we  were  obliged  to  open  the 
siege  in  regular  form.     Erecting  a  strong  battery  of 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  367 

Cannon,  wc  thundered,  during  five  days  and  nights, 
against  the  walls,  but,  notwithstanding  the  demoli- 
tion we  occasioned,  the  rebels  obstinately  refused  to 
surrender.  The  principal  inhabitants,  however,  at 
length  persuaded  them  to  submit,  which  they  did, 
but  so  incautiously,  as  not  to  make  any  terms  of 
capitulation— a  negligence  of  which  we  took  a  cruel 
and  inhuman  advantage,  by  entering  the  town  with 
fury,  and  carrying  everything  before  us  with  fire  and 
sword.  The  charms  even  of  beauty,  the  infirmities 
of  old  age,  the  smiles  of  innocence,  or  the  weakness 
of  infancy,  were  alike  incapable  of  exciting  in  our 
breasts  the  slightest  emotions  of  pity.  But  our 
senseless  fury  was  not  less  fatal  to  the  besiegers  than 
to  the  besieged  ;  for  the  inhabitants,  irritated  by  our 
barbarity,  and  judging  that  they  had  no  hope  of 
quarter,  flew  to  arms  in  the  agonies  of  despair,  and 
determined  to  sell  their  lives  dearly  to  unfeeling 
foes,  who  seemed  so  thirsty  after  their  blood  and 
treasures. 

My  heart  must  have  been  torn  by  this  afflicting 
scene,  if  the  necessity  I  was  under  of  defending 
myself  had  not  concealed  its  horror  from  my  ob- 
servation. Fighting  by  the  side  of  my  colonel,  his 
example  animated  my  fury,  and  urged  my  arm  to 
deal  around  its  deadly  blows  with  as  little  remorse 
as  the  rest.  Covered  with  wounds,  I  at  length  re- 
ceived, while  I  was  advancing  in  this  bloody  conflict, 
a  severe  blow  on  the  head,  which  brought  me  to  the 
ground,  where  I  lay  among  the  dying  and  the  dead, 
unti.1  the  besiegers,  having  glutted  their  vengeance 
by  the  destruction  of  every  inhabitant,  made  the  air 
re-echo  to  their  acclamations  of  Long  live  the  King, 


368  THE  HISTORY  OF 

when,  raising  my  head,  wounded  as  I  was,  and 
weltering  in  my  blood,  I  joined  in  the  chorus,  by 
crying,  in  feeble  and  expiring  accents,  Long — live — 
the— King. 

A  few  hours  after  the  combat  had  closed,  the 
wounded  were  separated  from  the  dead,  and  sent 
to  Salsona,  whose  inhabitants,  not  being  connected 
with  the  insurgents  of  Barcelona,  opened  to  us  the 
doors  of  their  hospitals.  I  had  the  good  fortune  to 
be  placed  under  the  care  of  a  #kilful  surgeon,  who 
soon  effected  my  recovery,  and  the  moment  I  found 
myself  sufficiently  strong,  I  returned  to  the  camp. 

So  prompt  a  disposition  to  range  myself  under 
our  victorious  standard,  continued  Don  Joachim, 
will,  perhaps,  make  you  imagine  that  I  burned  with 
impatience  to  perform  some  brilliant  action,  in  order 
to  advance  myself  in  the  service,  but  if  you  so  imagine, 
you  will  be  much  deceived.  The  horrid  impression 
which  the  siege  of  Cambriel  had  left  upon  my  mind, 
instead  of  increasing  my  inclination  for  war,  implanted, 
I  assure  you,  a  rooted  hatred  against  it  in  my  mind, 
and  I  determined  to  apply  for  my  discharge. 

The  colonel,  having  seen  me  fight  with  a  courage 
which  excited  his  admiration,  was  greatly  surprised 
at  my  request,  and  endeavoured  by  every  means  in 
his  power  to  dissipate  the  terror  which  had  struck 
my  mind.  "  My  young  friend,"  said  he,  "  you  should 
attribute  these  weak  feelings  to  your  want  of  expe- 
rience ;  for,  after  serving  two  or  three  campaigns,  you 
will  not  only  behold  the  bloodiest  battles  with  calm 
indifference,  but  even  feel  a  delight  in  carnage.  Do 
not  quit  me,  and  I  will  promise  you  the  first  pair  of 
colours  which  becomes  vacant  in  the  regiment." 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  369 

"Sir,"  replied  I,  "you  have  too  much  kindness  foi 
me ;  confer  this  honourable  employment  on  some 
cavalier  more  capable  than  I  am  of  accommodating 
himself  to  the  horrors  of  war,  and  suffer  me  to  return 
to  my  native  province  to  pass  the  remainder  of  my 
life  in  peace  and  tranquillity  with  my  family." 

"  I  will  grant  you  your  discharge,"  replied  the 
colonel,  "  for  I  should  be  sorry  to  keep  a  soldier 
against  his  inclination.  The  King  is  too  generous 
to  require  a  service  founded  on  restraint.  Go ;  you 
have  my  permission  to  quit  the  service." 

Having  in  this  manner  obtained  my  discharge,  I 
retired  towards  the  frontiers  of  Aragon,  not  without 
a  fear  of  meeting,  before  I  should  arrive  there,  some 
straggling  party  of  the  insurgents,  who,  seeing  me  in 
the  dress  of  a  Spanish  soldier,  would  not  fail  to  make 
me  feel  their  vengeance  ;  but  I  happily  passed  undis- 
covered through  Ebza,  and  reached  the  village  of 
Calanda,  where  I  stopped  two  days  to  repose,  and 
on  the  third  renewed  my  journey  by  the  road  which 
leads  to  Calatayud  ;  but,  unfortunately  missing  my 
way,  on  the  approach  of  evening,  in  a  place  where 
no  human  habitation  was  to  be  found,  I  was  obliged 
to  pass  the  night  in  the  open  air. 

This  situation,  indeed,  was  not  extremely  painful 
to  a  man  who  had  so  frequently  been  stationed  on 
the  night-picket  guard  ;  and  extending  myself  on 
the  grass  near  a  sheltering  bush,  in  a  frame  and 
temper  of  mind  not  very  favourable  to  sleep,  I 
endeavoured  to  beguile  the  tedious  hours  with  a 
song;  but  while  I  was  warbling  my  air,  the  sound 
of  a  guitar,  which  seemed  to  accompany  my  voice, 
struck   my  ear.      To  listen  with    more   attention,   I 

2  A 


370  THE  HISTORY  OF 

remained  for  some  time  silent,  but  not  hearing  any 
sound,  I  concluded  my  ear  had  been  deceived,  and 
began  to  sing  the  same  air  again,  when,  to  my  utter 
astonishment,  the  same  instrument  seemed  again  to 
accompany  my  voice.  Rising  from  the  ground  with 
great  precipitation  at  this  mystery,  and,  embarrassed 
as  I  was,  apostrophising  the  harmonious  spirit,  I 
exclaimed  with  transport,  "  It  must  be  my  comrade, 
the  New  Orpheus,  or  the  devil." 

"  I  am  not  the  devil,"  saTd  a  person,  rising  from 
the  ground,  on  the  other  side  of  the  bush,  and  run- 
ning towards  me  with  open  arms  ;  "  I  am  your  friend, 
who  returns  thanks  to  Heaven  for  having  found  his 
favourite  pupil.  By  what  accident  is  it  that  we  thus 
meet  ?  I  thought  you  were  dead,  or  courting  death 
in  the  service  of  the  King  of  Spain." 

Giving  a  brief  and  candid  account  to  my  fellow- 
soldier  of  my  dislike  of,  and  dismission  from,  the 
army,  it  induced  him  to  open  his  mind  to  me  with 
equal  candour ;  and  he  confessed  that  he  had  taken 
advantage  of  the  tumult  of  the  siege  to  desert  from 
the  army  and  to  seek  any  means  of  support,  however 
precarious,  rather  than  continue  to  live  by  the  trade 
of  war.  "  I  parted  with  my  uniform/''  added  he, 
"  at  Balvastro,  to  avoid  the  appearance  of  being  a 
deserter  ;  and  I  have  since  travelled  very  agreeably 
through  many  parts  of  Spain." 

"  That  surprises  me,"  replied  I ;  "  for  it  seems  to 
me  that,  in  order  to  travel  agreeably,  it  is  necessary 
to  be  well  supplied  with  money,  which  I  cannot 
conceive  to  be  your  case." 

"This  is  the  way,"  said  he,  "in  which  the  world 
judges  erroneously  of  men.     Know,  then,   that   my 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  371 

guitar  is  my  great  resource.  I  play  from  village  to 
village,  and  never  close  my  concert  without  putting 
some  handsome  presents  of  money  into  my  pocket. 
The  ground  is  not  generally  my  place  of  rest,  I 
assure  you  ;  aud  it  was  entirely  my  own  fault  that 
it  is  so  now.  Indulging  myself  too  long  to-day  after 
my  dinner,  I  was  surprised  on  my  journey  by  the 
approach  of  night,  and  thought  it  more  advisable  to 
rest  here  than  to  travel  any  farther  in  the  dark.  I 
do  not,  however,  lament  the  accident,  since  it  has 
thus  procured  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  again ; 
and,  if  you  stili  retain  your  disposition  to  ramble 
through  the  various  provinces  of  Spain,  you  may 
now  conveniently  indulge  it  by  bearing  me  company. 
You  already  play  on  the  guitar  excellently  well;  a 
few  more  lessons  will  render  you  equal  to  myself; 
and  you  may  safely  rely  on  my  assurances,  that  the 
profits  of  our  concerts  will  be  more  than  sufficient  to 
defray  all  our  travelling  expenses." 

I  confess,  gentlemen,  continued  young  Rodillas, 
that  I  permitted  myself  to  be  led  away  by  the  music 
of  my  friend.  On  the  ensuing  morning,  at  the  dawn 
of  day,  we  quitted  our  lodgings,  without  being  under 
anv  obligation  to  reckon  with  our  host,  and  proceeded 
to  Calatayud,  where  my  companion  purchased  an 
excellent  lute,  and  furnished  me  also  with  another 
suit  of  clothes,  which  I  exchanged  for  my  soldier's 
uniform,  the  less  to  endanger  the  safety  of  my  old 
comrade,  who,  as  I  was  no  deserter,  had  much  more 
to  risk  on  this  account  than  myself.  Having  taken 
these  precautions,  we  repaired  to  the  best  inn  in  the 
town,  and  dined  as  men  generally  do  who  have  ne'ther 
eaten  or  drank  for  four-and-twenty  hours. 


372  THE  HISTORY  OF 

The  hostess,  a  lively  brisk  young  widow,  whose 
husband,  an  old  man,  had  died  about  a  year  before, 
and  whom  she  seemed  to  have  entirely  forgot,  entered 
the  room  just  as  we  had  satisfied  our  famished  appe- 
tites, and  asked  us,  with  hospitable  civility,  whether 
the  ragoued  fillet  of  veal,  and  the  shoulder  of  mutton 
we  had  eaten,  had  pleased  us. 

"  Extremely  well,"  replied  my  comrade  very  coolly, 
"  and  the  wine  is  excellent." 

"  As  for  the  wine,"  said  the  widow,  "  I  am  sure  it 
is  the  best  batch  in  La  Mancha ;  and  I  may  venture 
to  say,  that  even  the  King  has  not  a  bottle  in  his  cellar 
more  delicately  flavoured." 

"  I  do  not  doubt  it,"  replied  my  companion  with 
an  air  of  raillery  ;  "  and  I  am  much  pleased  with  the 
good  fortune  which  directed  our  steps  to  so  comfort- 
able an  inn,  where  I  shall  willingly  stay  a  long  time 
if  the  inhabitants  of  the  place  have  taste  enough  to 
admire  our  talents." 

"  Talents  !  "  replied  the  young  widow  ;  "  and  pray 
what  are  your  talents,  gentlemen  ?" 

"We  are  two  musicians,"  replied  he;  "we  sing 
tolerably  well;  play  still  better  on  our  guitar;  travel 
from  town  to  town  to  show  our  parts  ;  and  live  by 
these  means  in  ease  and  plenty;  but,"  continued  he, 
"  as  you  are  not  obliged  to  take  our  words,  we  must 
give  you  a  specimen  of  our  merit." 

We  accordingly  took  out  our  guitars,  tuned  them 
to  each  other,  and  played  and  sung  for  some  time 
alternately.  We  had  no  occasion,  on  the  conclu- 
sion of  our  performance,  to  ask  the  widow  whether 
she  was  pleased  with  us. 

"  By  St.  Cecilia,"  cried  she,  "  this  is  ravishing.     I 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  373 

no  longer  doubt  whether  you  get  anything  by  the 
use  of  your  talents;  you  ought  to  get  millions.  The 
village  of  Calatayud  will,  I  am  sure,  amply  reward 
your  merit ;  for  its  inhabitants  are  excessively  fond 
of  novelties.  Certain  Savoyards  occasionally  visit 
us,  and  these  curious  drolls  return  to  their  moun- 
tains loaded  with  waravadis." 

"  Madam,"  interrupted  my  companion  hastily, 
•  silver  was  coined  for  such  sort  of  gentry  who  are 
only  enabled  to  please  the  vulgar  ear;  but  our 
talents  are  suited  only  to  the  noble  and  discerning 
few :  we  never  exhibit  except  in  the  company  of 
the  great,  and  are  never  offered  less  than  gold" 

Impatient  to  discover  whether  we  had  any  hope 
of  a  plentiful  harvest  at  Calatayud,  we  went  in  the 
evening  to  the  house  of  one  of  the  principal  inha- 
bitants, and  announced  ourselves  as  two  itinerant 
musicians  who  played  with  great  excellency  on  the 
guitar.  A  large  society  of  friend.s  happening  to 
assemble  at  the  house,  and  everybody  expressing 
a  lively  curiosity  to  hear  us  play,  we  were  accord- 
ingly introduced  to  the  company,  to  whom  we  ad- 
dressed ourselves  in  such  a  way  as  to  convince  them 
we  were  not  vagrants. 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  the  masler  of  the  house,  "  be 
pleased  to  exhibit  a  specimen  of  your  art;  but  it  is 
right  to  apprise  you  that  you  are  in  the  presence  of 
many  exquisite  masters  of  music." 

"  So  much  the  better,"  cried  I,  "  it  is  the  very 
thing  we  wish;''  and  immediately  taking  my  guitar, 
I  played  an  air  which  I  accompanied  with  my  voice, 
and  instantly  received  the  unanimous  applause  of  the 
whole  assembly  ;  some  praising  the  exquisite  softness 


374  THE  HISTORY  OF 

of  my  tones,  and  others  the  wonderful  rapidity  with 
which  I  touched  the  strings.  "  Gentlemen  and  ladies," 
said  I,  "  if  you  are  pleased  with  my  performance,  you 
will  be  in  raptures  with  that  of  my  companion.  You 
have  yet  only  heard  the  scholar ;  listen  now  to  the 
master."  And,  in  truth,  the  New  Orpheus  no  sooner 
touched  his  instrument  than  he  was  interrupted  by 
a  general  acclamation  of  applause.  He  indeed  sur- 
passed himself  upon  this  occasion,  and  fully  justified 
tiie  name  he  had  received.  Having  entertained  the 
company  for  at  least  three  hours,  we  placed  the 
guitars  on  our  shoulders  as  a  token  of  intention  to 
depart,  when  the  master  of  the  house,  amidst  reiterated 
praises,  presented  us,  in  testimony  of  the  pleasure  we 
had  afforded  him,  with  a  purse  of  gold,  the  contents 
of  which  we  immediately  examined  on  our  return  to 
the  inn,  and  were  very  agreeably  surprised  to  find  it 
contained  twenty  pistoles. 

"  Well,  my  friend,"  said  my  comrade,  "  what  do 
you  think  of  our  success  ?  You  must  not,  indeed, 
expect  so  munificent  a  reward  on  every  occasion. 
We  should  become  rich  too  soon.  We  may,  how- 
ever, fairly  flatter  ourselves  that  money  will  not  be 
wanting  to  defray  the  expenses  of  our  expedition." 

The  success  of  this  essay  determined  us  to  stay 
two  or  three  days  at  Calatayud,  being  fully  per- 
suaded that  more  fish  would  come  to  our  net ;  and, 
in  effect,  the  two  ensuing  days  so  well  warranted 
our  conjecture  by  the  compensations  we  received 
from  a  few  opulent  families,  that  we  carried  from 
Calatayud  more  money  than  was  necessary  for  the 
purchase  of  mules,  if  we  had  chosen  to  ride  ;  but, 
exclusively  of  the   consideration   that  an   equipage 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  375 

might  be  troublesome,  we  were  much  better  pleased, 
as  our  legs  were  not  more  than  fifteen  years  of  age, 
to  walk  on  foot,  than  to  be  conveyed  by  any  other 
means.  We  accordingly  set  out,  and  travelled  on 
foot,  by  short  stages,  stopp;ng  at  every  town  to  offer 
our  services  to  the  principal  inhabitants,  and  often- 
times even  in  the  villages  to  please  the  rich  farmers, 
who,  the  one  as  well  as  the  other,  were  chacmed  with 
our  voicesand  instruments  ;  and  if  they  did  not  bestow 
doubloons  upon  us,  we  at  least  eased  them  of  ecus;  so 
that  receiving  twenty  times  more  than  we  disbursed 
at  the  inns,  our  treasures  accumulated  every  day. 

I  shall  pass  over  in  silence,  continued  Don  Joachim, 
the  towns,  the  hamlets,  and  the  boroughs  in  which 
we  tried  our  skill,  to  bring  you  immediately  to  the 
principal  theatre  of  our  exploits. 

Strangers  who  distinguish  themselves  by  any  use- 
ful or  agreeable  talent  are  particularly  honoured  in 
the  metropolis  of  Andalusia;  and  the  moment  it  was 
circulated  through  the  city  that  two  celebrated  per- 
formers on  the  guitar  were  arrived,  we  were  over- 
whelmed with  visitors,  who,  anxious  to  learn  whether 
fame  was  right  or  wrong  in  boasting  of  our  merits, 
came  to  us  with  entreaties  to  satisfy  the  curiosity  they 
felt  to  hear  us  perform  ;  and  more  especially  those 
gentlemen  who  piqued  themselves  on  playing  the 
instrument  with  skill.  Both  descriptions  of  persons 
appeared  equally  delighted  with  our  performances, 
which  they  acknowledged  was  such  as  appeared  to 
refine  the  taste.  Their  admiration  was  inexhaustible. 
Many  of  them,  in  order  to  acquire  our  style  of  per- 
forming, became  our  pupils,  and  paid  us  well  for  the 
lessons  they  received. 


376  THE  HISTORY  OF 

Two  months  had  already  elapsed  since  our  arrival 
at  Seville,  where  we  had  accumulated  vast  sums  of 
money,  when  discord  shook  its  torch  over  our  heads. 
What  causes  of  displeasure  I  afforded  to  my  com- 
panion I  cannot  conceive  ;  but  I  began  to  perceive 
faults  in  his  character  which  I  had  not  before  ob- 
served. Until  this  period  we  had  always  behaved 
to  each  other  with  sufficient  complaisance  ;  but  even 
mutual  civility  were  now  at  an  end.  Each  was 
anxious  to  support  his  own  opinions  ;  and  our  differ- 
ences, at  first  only  contentions,  ended  at  length  in 
angry  quarrels. 

"  Comrade,"  said  I  to  the  deserter,  "  nature,  I  per- 
ceive, has  not  formed  us  to  live  together ;  let  us, 
however,  part  good  friends." 

"  I  was  going  to  make  you  the  same  proposal/' 
interrupted  he  with  precipitation,  "but  you  prevented 
me;  let  us  divide  the  produce  of  our  partnership, 
which  now  consists  of  four  hundred  pistoles,  and  each 
of  us  pursue  what  pleases  him  best." 

Taking  him  at  his  word,  we  divided  our  profits, 
and  bade  each  other  an  eternal  adieu. 

I  congratulated  myself  on  being  released  from 
such  bad  company,  which  in  reality  had  never  been 
pleasing  to  me.  I  had,  indeed,  frequently  reproached 
myself  for  forming  a  connecti®n  with  a  deserter,  and 
following  a  course  of  life  so  unworthy  of  my  birth  ; 
but  I  was  always  satisfied  by  this  self-condemnation, 
and  could  never  acquire  resolution  to  abandon  such  a 
companion. 

The  separation,  however,  having  now  taken  place 
by  mutual  agreement,  my  mind  speculated  upon  the 
subject  of  my  future  pursuits  ;  and,  after  various  reflec- 


VAN1LL0  GONZALES.  377 

tions,  I  resolved  to  return  to  Burgos  to  the  company 
of  a  brother,  who,  not  knowing  what  was  become 
of  me,  I  fancied  must  have  felt  great  trouble  on  my 
account.  To  accomplish  this  with  greater  expe- 
dition, I  determined,  as  Burgos  lies  at  a  great  dis- 
tance by  land  from  Seville,  to  travel  by  sea,  if  I 
could  find  any  vessel  feady  to  sail  for  the  coast  of 
Biscay;  and,  learning  that  one  would  depart  for 
St.  Andero  early  on  the  ensuing  morning,  I  failed 
not  to  seize  an  opportunity  so  extremely  favourable, 
St.  Andero  not  being  more  than  twenty  leagues  from 
Burgos.  Embarking  accordingly  with  about  a  dozen 
other  passengers  who  were  returning  to  Biscay  and 
Navarre,  we  set  sail,  and,  having  doubled  Cape  St. 
Vincent,  expected  to  make  a  passage,  not  only 
short,  but  pleasant  ;  when  a  large  vessel  from  Bar- 
bary  immediately  fell  in  with  us,  and  summoned 
us  to  surrender  without  resistance,  threatening  to 
sink  us  to  the  bottom  in  case  we  refused,  which  we 
thought  it  proper  to  prevent  by  striking  our  colours 
and  quietly  submitting  to  be  bound  in  chains.  These 
marine  robbers,  as  you  will  easily  imagine,  did  not 
forget  to  search  us  individually  from  head  to  foot ; 
and  it  was  no  small  satisfaction  to  the  pirate  to  find 
in  my  pocket  a  purse  of  one  hundred  doubloons. 
Joy  sparkled  in  his  eyes;  and  concluding  from  this 
circumstance  that  I  was  a  person  for  whom  he  was 
likely  to  procure  a  large  ransom,  he  affected  to  dis- 
tinguish me  from  my  unfortunate  companions,  whose 
pockets  he  had  not  found  so  richly  furnished.  He 
addressed  his  discourse  particularly  to  me ;  and  I 
had  the  satisfaction  to  find  that  the  manner  in 
which  I  answered  him  prepossessed  him  greatly  in 


37 S  THE  HISTORY  OF 

my  favour.  Observing  that  I  had  a  guitar  by  my 
side,  he  asked  me  whether  I  played  the  instrument. 
"Sir,"  replied  I,  "you  shall  judge  for  yourself,  if  you 
please." 

"Well,  slave,"  said  he,  "gratify  my  curiosity. 
Exhibit,  exhibit."  Accordingly,  tuning  my  guitar, 
I  played  and  sang  to  him  with  great  gaiety,  in  spite 
of  the  heaviness  of  my  heart. 

The  corsair  appeared  extremely  well  satisfied 
with  my  performance.  "Captive,"  said  he,  "thank 
Heaven  for  the  talents  you  possess.  Your  condition 
will  not  be  the  worse  for  them.  On  our  arrival 
at  Algiers  I  shall  give  you  an  employment  in  my 
family." 

This  ferocious  robber,  who  had  assumed  the  turban 
and  taken  the  name  of  Peglin,  was,  in  fact,  a  Spanish 
renegado  from  the  province  of  Navarre.  He  had 
formerly  commanded  a  privateer  from  St.  Sebastian, 
and  being  discontented  with  the  Spanish  service,  had 
attached  himself  to  that  of  the  republic  of  Algiers. 

The  nature  of  the  employment  which  he  designed 
to  bestow  on  me  I  was  quite  at  a  loss  to  conjecture; 
but  he  made  it  known  to  me  immediately  on  our 
arrival.  "  Captive,"  said  he,  "  you  have  the  happiness 
to  please  me,  and  as  a  mark  of  my  approbation,  I 
shall  place  my  son  Targut,  who  is  now  entering  into 
his  sixteenth  year,  under  your  care.  Teach  him  the 
Castilian  tongue  ;  learn  him  at  the  same  time  to  sing, 
and  to  play  on  the  guitar ;  this  is  what  I  exact  from 
you,  and  when  you  have  accomplished  these  three 
points,  be  assured  that  my  gratitude  will  exceed  your 
expectation." 

While  I  assured  Peglin  that  I  felt  myself  extremely 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  379 

honoured  by  his  commands,  and  that  I  would  spare 
no  endeavours  on  my  part  to  accomplish  his  desires, 
the  renegado  called  his  son  into  his  presence,  and 
introduced  him  to  me.  I  was  by  no  means  displeased 
with  the  person  and  manner  of  the  youthful  Algerine; 
and  being  informed  that  he  spoke  a  little  Spanish,  I 
addressed  him  in  that  language,  and  I  was  convinced 
by  his  answer  that  he  possessed  both  a  liberal  spirit 
and  a  good  understanding.  But  although  I  was 
obliged  to  pass  two  or  three  hours  every  morning 
with  him  in  his  apartments,  and  as  many  every  after- 
noon, Targut  made  but  a  slow  and  unpromising 
progress  in  his  studies.  As  my  enfranchisement, 
however,  depended  on  my  success,  I  did  not  suffer 
my  mind  to  despair.  On  the  contrary,  I  exerted 
myself  to  such  a  degree  that,  by  inculcating  the  same 
lesson  frequently  on  his  mind,  I  at  length  rendered 
my  instructions  effectual.  I  taught  him  to  sing  at 
sight,  and  to  play  tolerably  well  on  the  guitar ;  but 
this  was  the  work  of  four  long  years,  and  still  I  could 
not  make  him  a  proficient.  Happily,  his  father,  who 
was  not  an  extraordinary  connoisseur,  conceiving  him 
to  be  a  perfect  musician,  congratulated  me  every  day 
on  my  success,  but  without  ever  mentioning  my 
promised  liberty.  My  days  passed  unprofitably  away 
in  painful  captivity,  and  would,  I  fear,  have  continued 
so  to  do  for  a  much  longer  period,  if  an  event  had  not 
happened  in  the  family  of  the  corsair,  a  description 
of  which  you  cannot  listen  to  without  pleasure. 

A  young  female,  named  Zeinabia,  whom  Peglin 
had  captured  in  one  of  his  enterprises,  lived  at  this 
time  in  his  house,  and  had  become  the  idol  of  his 
heart.     Confining  her  in  a  remote  apartment,  which 


380  THE  HISTORY  OF 

no  one  was  permitted  to  enter  but  himself,  he  passed 
whole  days  with  this  unfortunate  captive  in  endea- 
vouring to  render  her  sensible  of  his  love.  At  the 
period  of  which  I  am  now  speaking,  Zeinabia  became 
suddenly  ill,  and  all  the  ablest  physicians  of  the 
country,  who  were  immediately  summoned  to  her 
assistance,  after  having  exhausted  their  skill  in  vain 
endeavours  to  afford  her  relief,  at  length  pronounced 
her  disorder  to  be  a  consumption  of  such  a  kind  as 
must  inevitably  be  fatal  to  her  life. 

The  distracted  lover  requested  the  physicians  to 
describe  to  him  the  nature  of  this  extraordinary 
complaint.  "  It  is  a  complaint,"  replied  the  most 
celebrated  of  these  sons  of  Hippocrates,  "occasioned 
by  a  corrosive  juice,  which,  mingling  with  the  mass 
of  the  blood,  dries  up  insensibly  all  the  vital  parts  of 
the  body  until  it  causes  death.  A  malady,"  added 
he,  "  extremely  common  in  England,  where  many  of 
both  sexes  yearly  die  of  it ;  and  it  seems  peculiar  to 
that  island,  for  I  do  not  remember  ever  to  have  heard 
of  a  consumption  either  in  Spain  or  Africa." 

"  My  good  doctors,"  replied  the  fond  barbarian, 
alarmed  by  this  discourse,  "is  there  no  remedy  for 
this  dangerous  malady?" 

"The  faculty  here  know  of  none,"  replied  they; 
"  and  death  is  in  general  the  patient's  sole  relief." 

The  physicians,  on  saying  this,  retired,  abandoning 
Zeinabia  to  Providence,  and  leaving  Peglin  in  a  state 
of  painful  consternation. 

Touched  by  the  excess  of  grief  which  he  exhibited 
on  this  occasion,  I  approached  him  respectfully. 
"Master,"  said  I,  "the  torments  you  feel  pierce  the 
heart  of  your  slave  with  sorrow;  and  as  the  physicians 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  381 

who  ought  to  know  the  remedy  for  every  disorder, 
have  none  for  that  which  afflicts  Zeinabia,  permit  me 
to  try  my  skill  for  her  relief.  Her  disorder  appears 
to  me  to  be  nothing  more  than  melancholy,  which 
may  be  removed  by  exciting  some  emotion,  so  as  to 
cause  a  dilatation  of  the  heart.  To  produce  this  effect, 
suffer  me  to  employ  a  means  which  has  just  occurred 
to  my  mind.  Let  me  be  permitted  to  visit  Zeinabia's 
apartment,  and  try  whether,  by  the  highest  melodies 
of  my  guitar,  I  cannot  produce  some  sudden  and 
salutary  revolution  in  her  mind." 

"  You  have  my  permission,"  replied  the  corsair,  "  to 
try  this  expedient;  but,  alas!  I  entertain  no  great 
hopes  of  its  success  :  it  can,  however,  do  no  harm  ; 
and  where  no  particular  remedies  are  known,  it  is 
right  to  try  experiments." 

Preparing  accordingly  to  perform  the  character  of 
physician  of  a  new  kind,  I  fetched  my  guitar,  and  fol- 
lowed the  corsair  into  the  room  where  Zeinabia  was 
confined.  "  Captive,''  said  he  to  me,  pointing  to  the 
lady,  who  lay  reclined  on  a  superb  sofa  of  Chinese 
taffeta,  "  look  attentively  on  th£t  charming  woman, 
and  tell  me  if  there  are  any  torments  equal  to  those 
I  must  feel,  if  death  should  snatch  her  from  my 
arms." 

"  Sir,"  replied  I,  "you  would  indeed  have  reason  to 
be  disconsolate,  but  Heaven,  that  watches  over  and 
preserves  the  most  beautiful  of  its  works,  will  not 
deprive  Zeinabia  of  life  at  the  very  commencement 
of  her  happiest  days."  Never,  in  truth,  did  my  eyes 
behold  an  object  more  lovely  than  the  face  of  this 
young  captive. 

Peglin,  who   was  still   more  impatient  even  than 


382  THE  HISTORY  OF 

in}  self  to  see  the  effect  of  my  skill,  immediately 
made  a  sign  to  me  to  begin  ;  and  instantly  sound- 
ing my  voice,  I  sang  a  tender  air,  which  I  accom- 
panied occasionally  with  the  softest  sounds  of  the 
guitar.  Observing,  however,  that  this  species  of 
music  rather  increased  than  diminished  the  languor 
of  my  patient,  I  suddenly  changed  the  music  to  a 
gay,  lively,  and  fantastic  strain ;  and,  as  to  affect  the 
feelings  of  others,  it  is  necessary  to  appear  affected 
ourselves,  I  accompanied  the  song  with  the  most  ex- 
travagant gestures  and  ridiculous  grimaces.  Scarcely 
had  1  concluded  the  first  verse  before  Zeinabia  sud- 
denly burst  into  a  violent  fit  of  laughter.  Peglin, 
perceiving  the  effect  I  had  unexpectedly  produced, 
exhibited  transports  of  the  most  extravagant  joy, 
until  the  patient  discovered,  by  the  violence  of  her 
laughter,  symptoms  of  an  hysteric  kind,  when,  appre- 
hensive that  the  sudden  transition  she  had  experienced 
had  affected  her  senses,  his  countenance  suddenly 
assumed  the  appearance  of  dismay  and  terror.  I 
must  confess  that  I  scarcely  knew  what  to  think 
of  her  situation  myself.  But  our  fears  were  soon 
happily  removed  by  her  ceasing  to  laugh,  and  ad- 
dressing her  discourse  to  Peglin  in  the  following 
terms  : 

"  Good  sir,"  said  she,  "  no  longer  be  alarmed  for 
the  situation  of  my  health  ;  this  captive  will  afford 
me  relief.  My  melancholy  mind  yields  itself  to  the 
superior  power  of  his  delightful  art.  I  feel  myself 
quite  another  being  than  I  was  a  moment  ago.  I 
cannot  return  my  thanks  too  warmly  to  this  great 
physician,  who  seems  to  have  discerned  hotter  than 
any   of  the  others  the  nature  of    my  complaint.     I 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  383 

hope  you  will,  at  my  earnest  request,  grant  him  his 
liberty." 

"O  Zeinabia!"  replied  the  pirate,  "that  is  the 
smallest  price  he  has  to  expect  from  my  gratitude. 
Leave  to  me  the  care  of  discharging  the  debt  you 
owe  to  him,  and  be  assured  I  shall  reward  him  well 
for  having  saved  the  life  of  her  I  love." 

The  pirate  certainly  was  not  ungrateful. 

"  Christian,"  said  he  to  me  on  the  same  day,  "  great 
as  the  sum  may  be  which  I  might  expect  for  the 
ransom  of  such  a  captive,  it  would  not  be  rewarding 
you  sufficiently  for  the  services  you  have  rendered 
to  an  amiable  mistress  and  a  deserving  son,  if  I  were 
merely  to  restore  you  to  liberty  and  your  country. 
There,"  added  he,  in  presenting  me  a  purse,  "  receive 
with  your  liberty  this  purse;  it  is  the  same  I  took 
from  you  on  the  day  you  fell  into  my  hands.  You  shall 
also  immediately  again  behold  the  shores  of  Spain  ; 
and  it  affords  me  some  pleasure  to  reflect  that  you 
will  not  have,  on  rejoining  your  friends,  a  history  ex- 
tremely lamentable  to  relate  to  them  of  your  slavery 
at  Algiers." 

If  I  had  only  brought  away  from  Algiers  my  per- 
son and  purse,  I  should  have  been  well  satisfied  with 
my  fate;  but  I  was  not  suffered  to  leave  the  country 
without  still  greater  satisfaction.  On  the  ensuing 
day,  Zeinabia's  favourite  slave  contrived  to  speak 
with  me  when  I  was  quite  alone,  and  putting  a 
^mall  casket  into  my  hands,  "Take  this  casket, 
young  Castilian,"  said  she  ;  "  my  mistress,  appre- 
hensive that  our  master  may  not  have  rewarded 
you  equal  to  your  merits,  begs  you  will  accept 
this  present  from    her ;  with  this  single  recommen- 


384  THE  HISTORY  OF 

dation,  that  you  will  carefully  conceal  from  whence 
it  came." 

Concluding  that  the  beautiful  captive  had  presented 
me  with  this  casket  unknown  to  Peglin,  and  appre- 
hending that  if  he  should  discover  it  previous  to 
my  departure,  the  face  of  my  affairs  might  assume 
an  inauspicious  appearance,  the  recommendation  with 
which  it  was  accompanied  gave  me  great  uneasiness. 
Happily,  however,  this  dangerous  secret  remained 
concealed  ;  for  I  was  immediately  afterwards  put  on 
board  a  swift-sailing  vessel,  in  which  I  shortly  reached 
the  Straits,  and  arrived  at  Tarifa. 

No  sooner  did  my  feet  touch  the  welcome  shore, 
than,  like  another  Pandora,  I  was  impatient  to  inspect 
my  unknown  treasures  ;  and  choosing  the  first  con- 
venient place  for  gratifying  my  curiosity,  I  opened 
the  casket,  and  found  in  it  ten  precious  stones  of 
different  kinds,  which  appeared  to  me,  although  I  was 
altogether  ignorant  of  their  qualties,  so  full  of  lustre, 
that  I  concluded  they  were  of  great  value. 

Fear,  however,  immediately  interposed,  and  dimi- 
nished the  joy  I  felt  in  the  contemplation  of  this 
valuable  property.  "  By  what  route,"  said  I,  "  shall  I 
safely  reach  Burgos  ?  A  passage  by  sea  to  St.  Andero 
exposes  me  to  the  dangers  of  being  captured  by 
some  other  pirate;  and  if  I  trust  myself  with  the 
muleteers,  and  these  dangerous  fellows  should  suspect 
that  I  am  rich,  I  shall  be  a  ruined  man." 

To  extricate  myself  from  the  embarrassment  in 
which  my  treasures  placed  me,  I  resolved  to  follow 
the  suggestion  of  the  moment,  and  to  take  the  road 
to  Burgos  in  the  miserable  garb  I  now  wear,  as  the 
most    likely   means  of  deceiving  robbers.     Accord- 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  385 

ingly,  hiding  my  riches  with  all  possible  care,  I  pur- 
sued my  journey  towards  Seville  in  the  character  of 
a  poor  captive  who  had  escaped  from  Barbary,  after 
a  slavery  of  five  years.  To  avoid  all  suspicion,  at 
the  several  inns  I  came  to  at  night,  I  ate  an  humble 
supper  of  bread  and  cheese,  and  requested  the  chari- 
table permission  to  sleep  on  straw  ;  I  even  begged 
sometimes  on  the  highways,  whenever  I  met  ihose 
whose  ill  looks  seemed  to  threaten  the  safety  of  my 
diamonds.  Not  to  fatigue  your  attention  any  longer, 
gentlemen,  continued  Don  Joachim,  I  have  oniy  to 
add  that,  in  travelling  in  this  artful  manner,  I  have 
arrived  here  without  meeting  with  any  accident. 

This  is  the  whole  of  my  history.  You  feel,  I  have 
no  doubt,  some  curiosity  to  see  the  casket  which 
Zeinabia  presented  to  me  ;  and  I  will  now  show  it  you. 

He  accordingly  drew  a  small  casket  from  the  bottom 
of  a  private  pocket,  and,  opening  it,  displayed  to  us 
three  diamonds,  two  turquoises,  two  rubies,  and  three 
emeralds,  which  we  examined  one  by  one,  in  great 
admiration  of  their  size  and  lustre. 

"  How  much,"  said  Ferrari,  "do  you  think  they  are 
worth  ? " 

"  Don  Mathias  de  Grajal  can  inform  us,"  replied 
Don  Sebastian  ;  "  for  he  knows  the  value  of  these 
articles  as  well  as  any  jeweller." 

Grajal,  after  examining  them  very  attentively,  esti- 
mated their  value  altogether  at  ten  thousand  ducats. 

Congratulating  Don  Joachim  on  his  rich  prize,  we 
gave  him  the  appellation  of  the  Happy  Slave,  and 
rallied  him  not  a  little  on  his  motive  for  quitting  the 
army  in  Catalonia,  and  for  travelling  with  the  deserter 
as  an  itinerant  musician. 

2B 


336  THE  HISTORY  OF 

"  Indeed,  my  dear  brother,"  said  Don  Sebastian, 
"  we  cannot  reconcile  the  valour  you  exhibited  at  the 
siege  of  Cambriel  with  the  weak  or  rather  unworthy 
fears  which  induced  you  to  quit  the  service." 

"  Brother"  replied  Don  Joachim,  "  impute  it  to 
Nature,  that  forms  us  in  whatever  mould  best  pleases 
her  fancy.  Besides,  I  have  already  suffered  as  much 
as  the  occasion  requires,  and  it  is  that  kind  of  service 
which  any  other  man  is  just  as  well  able  to  perform 
as  myself." 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  387 


CHAPTER  XLVII. 

THE   NEWS    WHICH    VANILLO    RECEIVED,    AND    THE   CAUSE 
OF     HIS     QUITTING     THE     CHATEAU   OF    FERRARI     TO 

RETURN     TO     MADRID THE     SITUATION     IN     WHICH 

HE  FOUND   DALFA    AND   BERNARDINA,   AND    THE  NEW 
MISFORTUNE   HE   EXPERIENCED. 

The  pleasures  which  accompanied  this  friendlysociety 
were  not  diminished  by  the  arrival  of  Don  Joachim, 
but  considerably  increased  by  his  elegant  manners 
and  lively  conversation. 

A  period  of  four  months  had  nearly  elapsed  in  the 
enjoyment  of  those  innocent  amusements  which  rural 
life  affords,  when  a  rumour  prevailed  that  the  Duke 
of  Ossuna,  who  had  recently  returned  from  his  govern- 
ment of  Naples,  had  been  arrested  by  the  King's 
command,  and  confined  in  the  castle  of  Almeda. 

Little  occasion  as  I  had  to  be  interested  in  this 
event,  for  reasons  already  related,  I  could  not  help 
feeling  it  with  great  sensibility.  The  Duke  of  Ossuna 
was  a  character  that  I  really  loved  ;  his  faults  were 
amply  overbalanced  by  many  good  qualities;  and  I 
had  lon£  forgotten  all  the  mortifications  he  had  caused 

o  o 

me  to  feel.  So  sensibly,  indeed,  did  his  misfortune 
affect  me,  that  I  requested  Ferrari  would  permit  me 
to  visit  Madrid,  that  I  might  learn,  by  my  own  in- 
quiries, the  real  situation  of  this  illustrious  statesman  ; 
a*d  Ferrari  acceded  to  my  proposal,  on  condition 
that  I  would  return  when  my  curiosity  was  satisfied. 


388  THE  HIS  WRY  OF 

Engaging  accordingly  with  a  muleteer  at  Burgos,  I 
returned  to  Madrid  ;  but,  impatient  as  I  was  to  learn 
the  situation  of  the  Duke's  affairs,  my  first  object  was 
to  inquire  about  my  own;  and  immediately  on  my 
arrival  I  visited  my  fair  associates,  who  received  me 
with  friendly  reproaches  for  neglecting  to  inform  them 
of  my  welfare  during  my  absence. 

"  How  negligent!"  exclaimed  Signora  Dalfa.  "You 
did  not  discover  more  unconcern  even  when  you  had 
no  share  in  our  partnership.  The  business,  however," 
continued  she,  "  is  not  unsuccessful ;  and  my  niece 
and  I,  by  the  manner  in  which  we  manage  it,  increase 
its  profits  daily.  Two  hundred  pistoles  are  already 
in  our  coffers." 

"  How!"  exclaimed  I, "two hundred  pistoles!  What 
a  vast  quantity  of  faded  beauty  must  have  been  re- 
stored to  amass  so  considerable  a  sum  !  " 

"  Oh !  as  for  that,"  replied  Bernardina,  laughingly, 
"  I  will  answer  you.  A  great  number  of  terrible  faces 
have  indeed  passed  through  our  hands." 

After  conversing  for  some  time  with  these  amiable 
and  useful  friends,  I  rose  to  take  my  leave,  when  Sig- 
nora Dalfa  detained  me,  saying  she  had  enclosed  the 
third  part  of  the  contents  of  the  coffer  in  a  bag,  and 
laid  it  by  for  my  use,  and  which  she  immediately 
delivered  to  me,  assuring  me  that  I  should  always 
have  a  faithful  account  of  the  moneys  which  accumu- 
lated from  time  to  time  in  the  partnership  funds. 

Charmed  with  the  good  management  of  my  fair 
friends,  I  paid  them  a  thousand  compliments,  par- 
ticularly on  their  integrity,  which  I  could  not  enough 
admire;  although  it  was  perhaps  much  less  admirable 
than  I  imagined,  as  I  had  no  certainty  that  what  I 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  389 

received  was,  in  fact,  only  a  third  part  of  the  joint 
funds  our  coffer  contained.  It  would,  however,  have 
been  extremely  wrong  to  have  been  discontented; 
for,  considering  the  women  had  it  in  their  power  to 
use  me  much  worse,  it  was,  I  think,  using  me  with 
wonderful  generosity. 

On  quitting  the  ladies  I  went  directly  to  Andre- 
sillo's  hotel,  where  I  had  kept  an  apartment,  and 
secured  my  bag  of  pistoles  in  my  portmanteau.  From 
thence  I  proceeded  to  the  mansion  of  the  Duke 
of  Ossuna,  in  hope  of  meeting  in  its  environs  some 
domestic  of  my  acquaintance  who  might  inform  me  of 
his  situation  ;  and  my  expectation  was  not  deceived  ; 
for,  just  as  I  approached  the  door,  I  observed  a  tall  man 
coming  out,  whom  I  recollected  in  Sicily  a  little  page. 

Politely  addressing  him,  "  Signor  Cylindro,"  said  I, 
"  I  fancy  you  do  not  recollect  me  ? " 

"  Pardon  me,"  replied  he,  "  you  are  Signor  Vanillo 
Gonzales.  I  recollect  you  again  perfectly  well,  al- 
though you  are  in  some  degree  altered." 

"And  I  also  knew  you  again,  my  friend,"  replied  I, 
"  although  you  have  advanced  at  least  three  feet  in 
height  since  I  last  saw  you.  Will  you  do  me  the 
favour  to  tell  me  the  news  concerning  my  old  master, 
whom  I  still  love  as  well  as  when  I  was  in  his 
service  ?  " 

"  We  are  not  now,"  replied  Cylindro,  "  in  a  proper 
place  to  speak  of  the  affairs  of  a  nobleman  so  dear  to 
us  both.  Come  with  me  to  the  first  cabaret,  and 
while  we  drink  a  bottle  of  Lucenna,  I  will  unfold  to 
you  the  embarrassment  into  which  the  too  open  and 
unsuspecting  disposition  of  the  Duke  has  plunged 
him," 


39o  THE  HISTORY  OF 

Unwilling  to  permit  an  occasion  so  favourable  to 
my  views  to  escape,  we  entered  a  hotel,  where  Cylin- 
dro,  having  filled  and  drank,  began  in  these  terms : 

"  Were  you  at  Madrid  when  the  Duke  made  his 
public  entry?" 

"  No,"  replied  I ;  "  I  was  at  the  chateau  of  a  gentle- 
man, a  friend  of  mine,  who  resides  near  Burgos, 
where  I  enjoyed  the  pleasures  of  a  very  agreeable 
society,  and  took  no  part  whatever  in  the  transac- 
tions of  the  court  I  was  even  ignorant  that  his 
Excellency  had  returned  from  the  government  of 
Naples  ;  and  the  first  account  I  received  of  him,  only 
two  days  ago,  was  that  of  his  imprisonment." 

"  You  would  have  seen,"  replied  Cylindro,  "  the 
most  superb  entry  that  any  viceroy  ever  made.  No 
governor  from  New  Spain  ever  made  so  ostentatious, 
and,  between  ourselves,  so  imprudent  an  exhibition. 
Every  rational  Spaniard,  therefore,  that  beheld  the 
scene,  condemned,  while  they  admired  its  splendour. 
The  Duke's  enemies,  who  are  both  numerous  and 
powerful,  did  not  fail  to  consider  his  pompous  retinue, 
the  magnificent  presents  he  made  to  the  royal  family, 
and  the  riches  he  brought  from  Italy,  as  proofs  of 
criminality ;  observing  that  his  disinterestedness  and 
the  fidelity  of  his  administration  might  be  easPy 
estimated  from  these  circumstances.  But  it  produced 
consequences  still  more  unfortunate,"  continued  the 
page.  "  The  King,  without  doubt,  has  suffered  his 
mindto  be  tainted  with  strong  prejudices  against  the 
Duke,  since,  notwithstanding  the  favourable  reception 
he  gave  him  on  his  arrival,  he  has  sent  him  a  prisoner 
to  the  castle  of  Almeda.  The  friends  and  partisans 
of  the  Giron  family  seem  to  flatter  themselves  that  it 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  391 

Is  only  a  temporary  storm,  which  will  soon  pass  away. 
They  insist  that  a  Viceroy  who  has  rendered  such 
important  services  to  the  nation,  and  performed  so 
many  laudable  actions  in  Sicily,  where  he  is  still 
adored,  must  in  consequence  soon  triumph  over  all 
his  enemies,  and  be  restored  with  honour  to  the 
government  of  Naples.  I  wish  it  may  be  so,  but  I 
do  not  believe  it  will  ever  happen;  for  I  tremble  at 
his  situation  when  I  reflect,  that  not  only  the  Count 
de  Benevento  and  Don  Balthazar  de  Zuniga,  but  the 
Duke  de  Olivarez,  the  three  most  powerful  men  at 
court,  particularly  the  two  last,  who  now  divide 
between  them  the  government  of  the  monarchy,  are 
his  avowed  enemies.  Adversaries  so  extremely 
formidable,  whose  power  has  already  ruined  the 
Duke  of  Lerma  and  his  son,  will,  I  fear,  also  over- 
whelm my  master." 

"  Oh  no  !  "  exclaimed  I  to  Cylindro  ;  "  let  us  hope 
that  it  is  impossible  for  them  to  induce  his  Majesty  to 
repay  with  the  blackest  ingratitude  the  services  of  a 
man  who,  bevond  contradiction,  confers  the  highest 
honour  on  the  Spanish  nation." 

"I  doubt  it,"  replied  the  page;  "notwithstanding 
the  many  enterprises  by  which  he  has  increased  the 
h«tre  of  the  crown,  and  which  plead  so  eloquently  in 
L.s  favour,  they  will  say  he  is  not  innocent.  Instead 
of  applauding  his  merit,  they  will  slander  him  with 
the  worst  of  crimes.  I  perceive  but  too  clearly  the 
rate  which  his  enemies  are  preparing  for  him.  Merely 
to  accomplish  his  fall  will  not  content  them.  In  the 
meantime,  they  have  committed  him  to  close  and 
rigorous  imprisonment.  I  cannot  think  of  his  situa- 
tion without  feeling  the  tenderest  concern.     Enclosed 


392  THE  HISTORY  OF 

within  the  walls  of  Almeda,  his  only  attendants  are 
two  of  his  domestics,  who  are  not  permitted  to  go 
without  the  walls;  and  all  his  company,  the  governor 
of  the  prison  with  six  archers  of  the  guard.  The 
governor  also  is  his  mortal  enemy.  Good  God  !  is 
this  the  way  to  treat  a  Viceroy,  whose  equal  in  good- 
ness and  integrity  was  never  known  ? " 

Cylindro  was  much  affected,  and  burst  into  tears, 
and  I  could  not  avoid  following  his  example. 

I  then  inquired  after  Thomas  and  Quivillo. 

"  As  for  Thomas,"  replied  Cylindro,  "  the  gout  has 
fastened  him  to  his  arm-chair  at  home;  but  your 
good  friend  Quivillo  still  enjoys  admirable  health. 
Like  me,  he  waits  to  see  the  end  of  this  business,  in 
order  to  regulate  his  conduct  accordingly." 

Having  had  this  conversation,  the  page  and  I 
quitted  each  other ;  he  to  execute  a  commission  for 
the  Duchess,  and  I  to  visit  my  friends  Thomas  and 
Quivillo  at  the  mansion  of  the  Duke.  I  was  first 
conducted  to  the  apartment  of  Quivillo,  who  received 
me  as  graciously  as  a  man  so  overcome  with  grief 
could  do. 

"Sir,"  said  I,  "upon  the  afflicting  news  of  the 
Duke's  adversity,  I  have  come  from  Burgos  to 
Madrid  to  assure  you,  that  notwithstanding  the 
reason  which  his  Excellency  has  given  me  to  com- 
plain of  his  conduct,  there  is  no  one  feels  his  situation 
with  more  acute  sensibility." 

"  Oh  !  his  Excellency  no  longer  retains  the  senti- 
ments he  expressed  to  you,"  replied  Quivillo  ;  "he  is 
sensible  of  the  harshness  of  his  conduct  towards  you, 
and  I  have  frequently  heard  him  lament  the  treat- 
ment you  received." 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  393 

"By  this  communication,"  replied  I,  "ycu  render 
his  misfortunes  still  more  painful  to  my  mind." 

"  I  am  glad  to  find,"  said  Quivillo,  "  that  your 
affection  for  his  Excellency  is  unimpaired  ;  he  will 
reward  sooner  than  you  imagine,  perhaps,  the  interest 
you  take  in  his  welfare  ;  for  it  is  thought  that  the 
principal  charges  adduced  against  him  will  appear  to 
his  judges  so  many  testimonies  in  his  favour.  They 
will  perceive  that  his  imputed  crimes  resolve  them- 
selves into  exploits  equally  glorious  to  himself  and 
advantageous  to  the  state.  In  short,  if  his  Majesty 
bestows  the  least  attention  to  the  petition  which  the 
Duchess  has  presented  in  favour  of  her  husband,  he 
will  be  persuaded  that  envy,  hatred,  and  malice  are 
the  only  motives  from  which  the  Viceroy,  so  worthy 
of  his  protection,  has  been  degraded.  Therefore,  my 
friend  Vanillo,"  added  he,  "  let  us  console  ourselves 
with  the  pleasing  hope  that  he  will  soon  be  released 
from  prison,  with  honour  to  himself,  confusion  to  his 
enemies,  and  advantage  to  his  friends." 

During  this  conversation  a  page  entered  the  room, 
and  informed  Quivillo  that  the  Duchess  desired  to 
speak  with  him.  We  accordingly  parted  ;  he  going 
to  the  Duchess,  and  I  towards  the  apartment  of 
Thomas,  being  unwilling  to  leave  the  house  without 
visiting  him.  I  found  him  reclined  on  a  couch  in 
his  chamber,  with  a  small  table  before  him,  upon 
which  he  was  writing,  although  he  had  the  gout  in 
his  hands  as  well  as  feet.  He  recollected  me  im- 
mediately, and  appeared  to  feel  some  pleasure  at 
seeing  me  a^ain. 

"My  dear  Vanillo,"  said  he,  "I  am  sorry  I  have 
not  seen  you   before  this  time,  as  I  have  it  in  my 


394  THE  HISTORY  OF 

power  to  inform  you  that  I  have  made  your  peace  with 
the  Duke.  He  is  no  longer  irritated  against  you. 
Seizing  every  favourable  moment  to  conciliate  his 
mind,  I  have  not  only  subdued  his  anger,  but  caused 
him  to  feel  a  real  regret  for  having  punished  you 
too  severely.  I  would  have  informed  you  of  my 
success  if  I  had  known  where  to  find  you.  Had  you 
followed  us  to  Naples  and  presented  yourself  to  his 
Excellency,  you  would  certainly  have  regained  his 
good  opinion.  But,"  continued  Thomas,  "  it  is  better 
late  than  never.  When  he  is  acquitted  of  the  crimes 
with  which  his  enemies  have  dared  to  accuse  him, 
you  may  expect  to  be  restored  to  your  former  station, 
or  rather  to  mine,  which  my  increasing  infirmities 
will  no  longer  permit  me  to  fill." 

The  old  valet  almost  convinced  me  by  this  dis- 
course that  I  had  done  him  an  injury  by  supposing 
him  to  have  been  my  secret  enemy ;  and,  in  the 
penitence  of  my  heart,  I  thanked  him  for  the  good- 
will he  had  always  expressed  towards  me.  Returning 
soon  after  to  my  hotel,  I  considered  myself  as  already 
fixed  in  the  service  of  the  Duke,  who,  I  made  no 
doubt,  would  soon  be  liberated  and  sent  back  to 
Naples,  with  new  powers  for  the  government  of  that 
kingdom,  where  I  promised  myself  many  pleasures. 
But  while  I  was  thus  anticipating  the  future  pro- 
sperity of  the  Duke,  the  dangers  of  his  present 
situation  greatly  increased.  Quivillo,  whom  I  saw 
on  the  ensuing  day,  informed  me  that  it  had  been 
susfcrested  to  the  Kino-  that  the  friends  and  adherents 
of  the  Duke  of  Ossuna  had  resolved  to  force  the 
prison  of  Almcda,  and  that  orders  had  been  there- 
upon   issued,   not    only   to   double   the   number  of 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  395 

guards,  as  well  within  as  without  the  walls,  but  to 
prevent  every  person,  whoever  he  may  be,  from 
approaching  the  gates.  This  unfounded  alarm  had 
been  raised  to  furnish  a  pretence  for  seizing  the 
persons  of  those  who  were  attached  to  this  un- 
fortunate nobleman.  And  in  truth,  all  the  disbanded 
officers,  together  with  the  gentlemen,  whether  Nea- 
politans or  Sicilians,  who  were  in  the  service  of  the 
Duke,  were  arrested  or  imprisoned.  The  Marquis 
de  Pobar,  captain  of  the  archers,  came  even  to  the 
Duke's  house  and  seized  the  faithful  Quivillo. 

As  I  happened  to  be  present,  the  Marquis  inquired 
of  me  whether  I  belonged  to  the  Duke ;  and  I  told 
Yiim  without  hesitation  that,  though  I  was  not  then, 
I  had  formerly  been  in  his  service. 

"  Then,"  replied  the  Marquis,  "  you  will  be  pleased 
to  follow  us  :  you  will  not  make  one  too  many  in  the 
state  prison." 

Instead  of  feeling  the  least  alarm  on  being  sur- 
rounded by  the  guards,  I  relied  with  courage  upon 
my  conscious  innocence,  and  hastily  entered  the 
prison,  more  rejoiced  than  afflicted  by  an  event 
which  I  hoped  the  Duke  would  in  a  short  time  be  in 
a  situation  to  remember  with  gratitude. 


39^  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER  XLVIII. 

THE  CAUSE  OF  VANILLAS  BRING  RELEASED  AFTER  FIFTEEN 
DAYS'  CONFINEMENT ;  AND  THE  REASON  OF  BIS  BEING 
SENT  TO  THE  CASTLE  OF  ALMEDA  TO  KEEP  THE  DUKE 
OF  OSS  UNA  COMPANY. 

A  MAN  who  has  beheld  the  terrible  dungeons  of  the 
Holy  Office  may  look  without  alarm  round  the 'place 
in  which  I  was  now  confined.  It  was  a  dark  and 
spacious  hall,  called  the  Royal  Chamber,  containing, 
for  the  comfortless  accommodation  of  its  inmates, 
six  hard  mattresses  and  as  many  bolsters  stuffed  with 
straw.  But  the  inconveniency  of  the  lodgings  were 
more  than  balanced  by  the  excellency  of  the  board  ; 
for  the  minister  took  good  care,  and  perhaps  for 
good  reasons,  that  state  prisoners  should  not  be 
starved  to  death.  Indeed,  if  our  beds  had  been  as 
pleasant  as  our  board,  we  should  have  been  too  happy. 
Six  objects  of  ministerial  vengeance,  who  had  been 
arrested,  as  it  were,  by  anticipation,  that  is,  for  the 
offence  they  would  have  committed  if  they  had 
attempted  to  release,  or  had  entertained  any  inten- 
tion of  attempting  to  release,  the  Duke  of  Ossuna  from 
the  castle  of  Almeda,  were  now  fellow-prisoners  in  this 
state  chamber  ;  and  when  we  recognised  each  other  as 
the  partisans  of  that  illustrious  nobleman,  the  common 
cause  by  which  we  were  united  consoled  our  minds. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  397 

The  warder  also,  who  was  a  man  of  high  spirit  and 
secretly  attached  to  the  Duke,  afforded  us  the 
additional  satisfaction  of  informing  us  of  every  step 
which  the  minister  was  taking  against  him. 

"Gentlemen,"  said  he  one  day,  "  I  have  important 
news  to  tell  you.  This  morning  it  was  discussed  in 
the  cabinet  whether  the  Duke  should  be  prosecuted 
with  extreme  ligour,  be  set  at  liberty,  or  be  confined 
for  life.  Various  opinions  were  entertained.  The 
enemies  of  his  Excellency  insisted  that  he  ought  to 
be  proceeded  against  for  high  treason.  His  friends 
contended  that,  however  imprudent  he  had  been  upon 
some  occasions,  his  conduct  upon  many  others  had 
been  highly  meritorious  ;  that  he  had  been  import- 
antly serviceable  to  the  Catholic  cause;  that  on  a 
general  view  his  merits  greatly  overbalanced  his  de- 
merits;  and  that  his  Majesty,  swayed  more  by  the 
suggestions  of  clemency  than  the  demands  of  political 
justice,  ought  to  grant  him  a  pardon,  and  set  him 
immediately  at  liberty.  But  the  voice  of  candour 
and  moderation  was  overpowered  by  the  clamours 
of  faction.  The  alarmists  contended,  with  great  viru- 
lence, that  the  public  had  a  right  to  be  satisfied  of 
the  guilt  or  innocence  of  the  accused,  and  therefore 
it  was  necessary  to  bring  him  to  trial.  At  length, 
however,  it  was  determined  to  wait  until  the  arrival  of 
the  expected  documents  from  Sicily  and  Naples  ;  the 
respective  Viceroys  of  these  dependencies  having 
received  orders  from  the  court  to  inquire  very 
minutely  into  the  conduct  of  the  Duke  during  his 
administration,  and  to  transmit  to  Madrid  the  result 
of  their  inquiries. 

Fondly  as  I  hoped  that  these  depositions  would 


39^  THE  HISTORY  OF 

clearly  establish  the  general  good  character  of  the  illus- 
trious prisoner,  and  that  a  man  who  had  obtained  so 
many  signal  victories  over  the  enemies  of  his  country 
would  find  his  judges  prepossessed  in  his  favour,  the 
information  which  the  warder  had  given  us  raised 
many  apprehensions  in  my  mind  ;  for,  having  been 
an  eyewitness  of  the  Duke's  conduct,  I  was  con- 
scious it  would  be  difficult,  even  for  his  most  zealous 
friends,  entirely  to  justify  some  parts  of  it. 

The  expected  papers  soon  afterwards  arrived ;  and 
on  the  matter  being  again  discussed  in  the  privy  coun- 
cil, the)'  were  referred  to  the  inspection  and  conside- 
ration of  Don  Gaspar  de  Vallejo  and  Don  Francis 
Alarcan,  two  statesmen  of  high  honour  and  approved 
integrity,  from  whose  report  we  formed  great  hopes 
in  the  Duke's  favour,  which  were  considerably  in- 
creased about  ten  days  afterwards  by  a  rumour  that 
the  contents  of  the  documents  from  Sicilv,  instead  of 
condemning  his  conduct,  resounded  his  praise,  and 
that  the  nobility  and  gentry  there  unanimously  de- 
sired he  might  be  again  appointed  to  the  government 
of  that  island.  It  appeared,  indeed,  that  the  deposi- 
tions from  Naples  were  not  favourable  to  him;  for 
they  charged  him  with  having  committed  many 
crimes ;  but  these  were  reported  by  the  commis- 
sioners to  be,  in  all  the  material  points,  totally  vague 
and  without  foundation,  and  upon  this  inquiry  he  was 
adjudged  innocent  of  the  charges  alleged  against 
him. 

But  it  was  not  thought  prudent  to  set  a  man  of 
his  high  and  daring  spirit  at  liberty  immediately 
after  such  violent  and  unsupported  measures  had 
been  taken  against  him,  especially  as  he  still  pos- 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  399 

sessed  a  great  number  of  powerful  friends,  who 
might,  with  his  assistance,  give  great  disturbance  to 
the  state.  He  was  accordingly  detained  a  prisoner 
in  the  castle  of  Almeda ;  but,  to  soften  in  some 
degree  the  severity  of  this  detention,  he  was 
permitted  to  see  his  friends  and  relations,  and 
allowed  the  privilege  of  being  waited  on  by  his 
own  domestics.  The  several  persons  also  who  had 
been  arrested  for  their  affectionate  attachment  to 
him  were  discharged. 

I  quitted  very  willingly  the  royal  apartment,  and 
returned  to  the  house  of  Andresillo,  where  I  found 
my  portmanteau  in  the  same  condition  I  had  left 
it ;  for  my  host  was  a  man  quite  incapable  of  any- 
thing dishonourable. 

Anxious  to  obtain  some  information  respecting 
the  fate  of  my  friend  Ouivillo,  I  went  immediately 
afterwards  to  the  Duke's  house,  not  doubting  but 
that  he  also  had  been  liberated,  and  I  found  him 
there  in  conversation  with  Thomas,  who  expressed 
great  satisfaction  at  seeing  me,  and  told  me  that  he 
had  an  offer  to  make  to  me,  of  which  he  hoped  I 
would  accept. 

"You  must  know,"  continued  he,  "that  yesterday 
my  gout;  permitted  me  to  visit  the  castle  of  Almeda, 
where  I  saw  the  Duke,  and  I  spoke  to  him  in  your 
favour.  The  circumstance  of  your  being  appre- 
hended and  imprisoned  for  having  been  formerly  in 
his  service  was  so  ridiculous,  that  he  could  not  help 
laughing  at  it. 

'■ '  Poor  lad/  said  he,  '  I  have  been  the  cause  of 
givinr  him  a  gieat  deal  of  unnecessaiy  pain.' 

"'Your  Excellency,'  said  I,  'should  take  him  again 


400  THE  HISTORY  OF 

under  your  protection.  A  servant  of  his  description 
would  amuse  you  in  your  confinement.' 

"'  I  shall,'  replied  the  Duke,  '  most  willingly  restore 
him  to  my  service,  and  if  he  will  voluntarily  submit 
to  immure  himself  within  the  walls  of  this  prison, 
I  am  sure  his  company  and  conversation  would 
afford  me  great  pleasure.' 

"'Will  submit,  my  lord!'  replied  I;  'oh!  do  not 
injure  him  by  doubting  it.  He  will,  I  am  certain, 
willingly  resign  his  liberty  until  you  recover  yours.' 

"  This  is  the  proposal  I  have  to  make  to  you. 
Consider  of  it.  Is  your  affection  for  the  Duke  suffi- 
cient to  induce  you  to  share  his  situation  in  the 
castle  of  Almeda  ?  You  may  easily  believe  that  he 
will  not  remain  there  the  remainder  of  his  life.  The 
eyes  of  his  Majesty  are  at  present,  it  is  true,  shut 
against  his  merits  ;  but  time  will  clear  away  the  film 
of  prejudice,  and  you  will  then  find  that  in  keeping 
this  illustrious  captive  company,  you  have  done  no 
injury  to  yourself." 

While  I  protested  that  it  would  form  the  future 
pleasure  of  my  life  not  only  to  enter  into  the  service 
of  his  Excellency,  but  to  alleviate,  by  any  means  in 
my  power,  the  vexations  of  captivity,  the  faithful  old 
valet  interrupted  me  by  observing  that  such  senti- 
ments as  these  would  render  my  company  still  more 
pleasing  and  consolatory  to  his  Excellency,  especially 
as  he  had  been  made  acquainted  that  my  present 
condition  rendered  the  profits  of  servitude  quite  un- 
necessary. 

Matters  being  thus  settled  between  us,  I  went  to 
my  hotel,  and,  packing  up  my  necessaries,  returned 
immediately  to  Quivillo,  who  was  waiting  to  conduct 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  401 

me  in  the  Duke's  coach  to  my  new  prison.  On  our 
arrival  at  the  castle,  the  guard  at  the  gate  permitted 
us  to  enter  without  asking  a  single  question  ;  and, 
passing  through  a  large  courtyard,  we  ascended  a 
flight  of  marble  steps,  which  led  to  the  apartment  in 
which  the  noble  prisoner  was  confined. 


2C 


402  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER   XLIX. 

THE    STATE    IN    WHICH    VANILLO     FOUND    THE    DUKE    OF 

OSSUNA  IN      WHAT      MANNER       THAT      NOBLEMAN 

RECEIVED  HIM THE  CONVERSATION  THEY  HAD  WITH 

EACH  OTHER;   AND    THE    PERSONAGES    BY    WHOM    IT 
WAS  INTERRUPTED. 

The  Viceroy, — for  so,  by  way  of  excellency,  I  shall 
always  distinguish  the  Duke  of  Ossuna, — although, 
after  what  Thomas  had  told  him,  he  must  have  ex- 
pected to  see  me,  exhibited  strong  marks  of  astonish- 
ment when  I  entered  the  room. 

"  How,  Vanillo,"  cried  he,  "  is  it  possible  that  friend- 
ship for  your  old  master  can  induce  you  to  partake 
of  his  troubles  ?  Can  you  prefer  the  sorrowful  life 
which  he  passes  here  to  all  the  gay  and  lively  plea- 
sures of  Madrid  ?"• 

"Yes,  sir,"  replied  I;  "the  pleasure  of  being  near 
the  person  of  your  Excellency,  and  of  receiving  your 
commands,  is  more  delightful  to  me  than  liberty. 
Such  is  the  sensibility  that  your  imprisonment  has 
excited,  that  your  own  heart  cannot  feel  your  troubles 
with  more  poignancy  than  I  do." 

"  Is  it  possible,"  exclaimed  the  Duke,  "  that  in 
spite  of  the  bad  treatment  you  received  from  me  in 
Sicily,  you  have  always  preserved  a  zeal  and  affection 
for  me  ?  I  blush  when  I  think  of  the  injustice  I 
committed  ;  and,  to  repair  the  injury,  as  Thomas  is 
no  longer  in  a  condition  to  fill  that  place,  I  select  you 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  403 

for  my  confidential  attendant.  Do  you,"  continued 
he,  addressing  himself  to  Quivillo,  "  return  to  Madrid, 
and  inform  Donna  Catherina  that  you  have  found  for 
me  a  man  whose  company  will  occasionally  suspend 
the  effect  of  my  chagrin." 

Quivillo  departed,  well  satisfied  with  my  reception, 
leaving  me  alone  with  the  Duke,  who,  seating  himself 
in  his  arm-chair,  and  reflecting  on  the  unpleasant 
situation  of  his  affairs,  "  Vanillo,"  said  he,  "  draw  a 
chair  and  tell  me  all  you  have  been  doing  since  your 
departure  from  Sicily.  You  have,  without  doubt, 
experienced  many  pleasant  adventures  ? " 

"  The  most  pleasant,"  replied  I,  "  was  the  danger  I 
escaped  of  being  burned  as  a  conjurer  at  the  last 
sacrifice  of  the  Holy  Inquisition." 

"  What  do  you  say  ?"  exclaimed  the  Duke  ;  "you 
certainly  cannot  be  serious!" 

"Pardon  me,"  replied  I.  "At  the  last  auto-da-fe 
I  was  one  of  the  unhappy  victims  destined  to  carry 
the  samarra,  upon  which  flames  and  devils  are  painted, 
and  my  head  was  menaced  with  the  ornament  of  a 
carochas ;  but  I  fortunately  escaped." 

"  I  am  eager  to  be  informed,"  replied  the  Dufor, 
"  how  you  could  release  yourself  from  the  grip  of  the 
Holy  Inquisition,  whose  dungeons  I  consider  like  a 
place  from  whose  bourn  no  traveller  returns!' 

Fearful  of  fatiguing  my  noble  auditor,  I  succinctly 
recited  this  adventure;  but  he  insisted  on  my  giving 
him  a  very  circumstantial  account  of  the  whole  trans- 
action, which  obliged  me  to  enlarge  the  subject  of  my 
narration  ;  and  I  detailed  to  him  a  journal  of  my 
residence  in  Italy  and  return  to  Spain.  I  began  by 
relating  the  manner  in  which  I  became  a  pharma- 


4o4~  THE  HISTORY  OF 

copolist ;  my  attachment  to  Violetta,  the  daughter  of 
Potoschi ;  and  how,  when  I  was  on  the  verge  of 
marrying  her,  I  quietly  surrendered  her  to  the  arms 
of  a  more  favourite  lover,  quitted  Palermo,  and  em- 
barked for  Leghorn. 

The  Viceroy  was  so  highiy  entertained  by  this 
portion  of  my  adventures,  that  he  requested  of  me 
to  relate  to  him  the  subsequent  story  of  my  life  ;  and 
I  performed  the  task  in  so  lively  a  manner,  that, 
oppressed  as  he  was  by  the  circumstances  of  his  mis- 
fortunes, he  burst  occasionally  into  involuntary  fits 
of  laughter,  particularly  when  I  described  the  several 
characters  to  whom  I  administered  my  grand  specifics 
for  restoring  decayed  beauty,  and  the  wonderful 
transformation  they  effected  on  the  persons  of  my 
patients.  But  at  length,  conceiving  that  it  was 
fiction,  calculated  merely  to  divert  him,  he  inter- 
rupted me. 

"  Gonzales,"  said  he,  "  you  exaggerate  the  virtues 
of  your  compositions  :  they  may  at  most,  perhaps, 
remove  freckles,  embellish  the  complexion,  and  soften 
the  skin  ;  but  it  is  impossible  to  conceive  that  they 
have  power  to  invert  the  order  of  nature,  by  giving 
the  high  and  rosy  bloom  of  youth  to  the  withered 
cheeks  of  age." 

"Excuse  me,  sir,"  replied  I;  "the  compositions 
I  am  speaking  of  possess  very  extraordinary  and 
surprising  powers;  they  completely  metamorphose 
the  patient,  and  restore  to  faded  beauty  its  time- 
stolen  charms.  You  will  no  longer  doubt  its  efficacy, 
when  I  tell  you  that  the  Baroness  de  Conca,  who  so 
powerfully  attracted  your  attention,  as  well  as  her 
mother,   the   Lady  Blanche,  whom    my   predecessor 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  405 

Thomas  thought  so  rosy,  did  not  disdain  to  use 
them." 

"  How  can  you  know  that  ? "  inquired  the  Viceroy. 

"Because,"  replied  I,  "  Potoschi,  the  inventor,  who 
furnished  these  ladies  with  them,  has  frequently 
informed  me  that  the  Baroness,  young  as  she  was, 
owed  her  conquest  over  your  Excellency  less  to  her 
own  nature  than  to  his  art." 

The  idea  of  having  been  enamoured  with  factitious 
beauty  raised  a  blush  uppn  the  Duke's  cheek;  it 
wounded  his  vanity ;  but  I  being  the  only  witness 
of  this  petty  mortification,  he  affected  to  laugh  at 
his  credulity,  and  endeavoured  to  pass  it  oft  as  a 
matter  unregarded.  Immediately  afterwards,  how- 
ever, assuming  a  serious  countenance,  "  Vanillo,"  said 
he,  "  if  you  really  possess  this  important  secret,  you 
will  soon  be  rich." 

"I  should  have  been  so  now,"  replied  I,  "if  the 
Inquisition  would  have  permitted  it;  but  I  was  un- 
fortunately denounced  to  the  holy  tribunal,  and 
arrested  as  a  chemist  who  had  recourse  to  magic  in 
performing  his  operations." 

Not  content  with  merely  stating  the  fact,  I  gave 
the  Duke  a  faithful  account  of  this  transaction  in 
every  particular  circumstance,  and  you  will  easily 
conceive  that  I  did  not  forget  to  tell  him  of  the 
total  confiscation  of  my  property. 

The  laughter  into  which  the  description  I  gave  of 
this  event  threw  the  Duke,  was  interrupted  by  the 
arrival  of  the  Duchess  and  Don  Juan  Telles,  their 
son,  who  visited  the  castle  dailv.  "You  must  be 
surprised,"  said  his  Excellency  to  Donna  Catherina, 
"to  find  me  in   so   merry  a  mood,  considering   the 


4o6  THE  HISTORY  OF 

gloomy  condition  of  my  affairs ;  but  I  could  not 
resist  the  impulse  which  a  ridiculous  adventure 
Vanillo  has  just  related  to  me  created." 

"  Since  he  possesses  the  power  of  amusing  you" 
said  the  Duchess,  "I  am  extremely  happy  that  you 
have  him  as  a  companion ;  especially  as  I  have  been 
assured  by  both  Thomas  and  Quivillo  that  he  has 
ever  preserved  for  you  a  sincere  attachment." 

"  I  am  convinced  of  it,"  replied  the  Duke,  "and  I 
hope  I  shall  hereafter  have  it  in  my  power  to  reward 
his  zeal  and  affection.  The  gaiety  of  his  humour 
is  very  agreeable  to  me,  and  his  liveliness  will,  I 
perceive,  prevent  the  intrusion  of  many  unpleasing 
reflections." 

Donna  Catherina,  wishing  to  impart  some  private 
matters  to  her  husband,  desired  him  to  walk  towards 
the  window;  and  while  they  were  conversing,  Don 
Juan  earnestly  entreated  me  to  afford  his  father  all 
the  comfort  in  my  power,  and  to  diminish,  if  possible, 
the  chagrin  that  preyed  upon  his  mind  ;  assuring  me 
that  my  kind  attentions  would  be  gratefully  remem- 
bered by  the  Duke  on  his  being  enlarged,  "  which," 
added  he,  "we  have  great  reason  to  expect  in  a  few 
days."  The  Duchess  also,  as  I  attended  her  to  her 
carriage,  repeated  the  request,  and  gave  me^.the  same 
information,  so  that  I  had  every  reason  to  be  content 
with  my  confinement,  and  to  flatter  myself  that  my 
complaisance  wowld  soon  meet  with  its  reward. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  407 


CHAPTER  L. 

THE  MEANS  VANILLO  EMPLOYED  TO  DIVERT  THE  MIND 
OF  THE  NOBLE  PRISONER,  AND  THE  EFFECTS  HE 
PRODUCED. 

The  Duke,  on  the  departure  of  his  family,  threw 
himself  into  his  arm-chair,  and  desired  me  to  ac- 
quaint him  by  what  miracle  I  had  escaped  from  the 
clutches  of  the  Holy  Office.  While  I  was  relating  to 
him  the  manner  in  which  I  procured  my  freedom, 
through  the  interest  of  the  Count  de  Olivarez,  a 
profound  sigh  issued  from  his  bosom.  "  You  speak," 
said  he,  "  of  a  person  who  plays  a  very  exalted  char- 
acter on  the  political  theatre  of  Spain  ;  a  man  who 
happily  possesses  the  great  art  of  riveting  the  mind 
of  his  royal  master  to  his  will.  Even  the  Duke  of 
Lerma  never  possessed  a  more  powerful  ascendency 
over  the  mind  of  Philip  the  Third.  But  Olivarez,  alas  ! 
unfortunately  for  me,  is  my  determined  enemy,  and, 
with  the  Count  de  Benevento,  directs  the  designs  of 
the  party  who  are  now  seeking  my  ruin.  Had  it  not 
been  for  the  malignant  envv  of  these  two  noblemen, 
I  should,  long  ere  this,  have  been  at  liberty  ;  or  rather, 
I  should  never  have  been  confined.  Instead  of  my 
conduct  being  impeached,  a  statue  would  have  been 
raised  to  commemorate  the  services  I  have  rendered 
the  crown  ;  but  superior  merit  wounded  their  envious 
souls,  and  they  have  not  only  used  ever}'  endeavour 
to  compass  my  death,  but,  fearful  of  the  effect  my 


408  THE  HISTORY  OF 

liberty  might  produce,  unite  in  perpetuating  my 
imprisonment." 

Conceiving,  from  the  manner  in  which  the  Duke 
uttered  this  sorrowful  declamation,  that  he  was  sink- 
ing into  a  melancholy  humour,  I  suddenly  changed 
the  conversation  to  the  subject  of  the  Holy  Office  ; 
and,  by  a  train  of  happy  ideas  which  occurred  to  me 
on  the  occasion,  I  disposed  his  mind  to  pleasant  re- 
flections. 

On  asking  him  whether  he  did  not  think  it  extra- 
ordinary that  I  should  be  accused  of  sorcery,  merely 
for  knowing  how  to  prepare  a  composition  for  the  use 
of  the  ladies,  he  replied,  with  an  air  of  raillery,  "  Not 
at  all ;  for  if  it  be  true  that  Potoschi's  art  gave  my 
Italian  Baroness  the  lustre  in  which  she  appeared  to 
me,  I  really  think  you  must  have  some  dealing  with 
the  devil ;  for  she  was  a  woman  whose  complexion 
setmeJ,  to  my  observation,  perfectly  natural;  and, 
therefore,  you  was,  in  my  opinion,  very  fortunate 
indeed  to  escape  the  flames." 

"True,"  replied  I,  in  a  jocose  manner,  "I  merited 
this  species  of  punishment  from  the  Inquisition  as 
much  as  the  punishment  I  suffered  at  Palermo  when  I 
was  accused  of  being  a  murderer  ;  but  I  beg  your 
Excellency's  pardon  for  the  observation." 

"  Oh !  my  dear  Vanillo,"  cried  the  Duke,  "  forget, 
j  entreat  you,  the  injustice  I  committed.  Excuse 
the  mind  of  a  lover  distracted  with  suspicions  and 
overcome  with  errief.  Let  the  fatal  event  be  hereafter 
buried  in  oblivion." 

The  Duke  pronounced  these  words  with  a  sensi- 
bility so  tender  that  it  deeply  affected  my  heart.  How 
easily  may  superiors  banish  from  the  mind  of  infe- 


VAN1LL0  GONZALES.  409 

riors  all  sense  of  injuries  received  !  Charmed  by  the 
repentance  which  his  Excellency  expressed  for  the 
manner  in  which  he  had  treated  me  in  Sicily,  my 
attachment  augmented  to  a  degree  I  had  never  before 
felt.  So  sensibly,  indeed,  was  my  heart  touched  by 
his  returning  kindness,  that  the  tears  of  affection 
started  in  my  eyes.  The  Duke  observed  my  sensi- 
bility, and  I  discovered,  by  his  emotions,  the  corre- 
spondent feelings  of  his  heart  ;  so  natural  is  it  to 
be  affected  by  the  pleasure  of  perceiving  ourselves 
beloved.  "  Go,  Vanillo,"  said  he  ;  "  the  future  shall 
recompense  the  past.  Whatever  occasion  I  may  have 
heretofore  given  you  to  complain  of  me,  I  will  here- 
after treat  you  in  such  a  manner  as  to  deserve  your 
approbation." 

These  affectionate  expressions  bound  me  for  ever 
to  the  Duke,  who  appeared  to  me  at  this  moment  the 
most  amiable  nobleman  existing,  or  that  ever  did  or 
woutd  exist.  Unable  to  suppress  my  joy,  and  yield- 
ing to  the  transports  which  agitated  my  mind,  I  threw 
myself  at  his  feet  and  kissed  his  hand,  without  his 
being  offended  at  my  indecent  boldness. 

Durinsf  this  scene  a  bell  announced  that  dinner  was 
ready  ;  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  major-domo  entered, 
and  acquainted  the  Duke  that  it  was  on  the  table. 
Rising  from  his  chair  and  passing  into  the  adjoining 
apartment,  he  seated  himself  alone  at  the  table;  and 
his  equerries  and  gentlemen-in-waiting,  to  the  number 
of  nine  or  ten,  immediately  attended,  and  during  the 
whole  time  of  dinner  stood  round  the  Duke,  un- 
covered, waiting,  with  respectful  silence,  to  receive 
the  orders  he  should  be  pleased  to  give  ;  but  he 
addressed  his  discourse  entirely  to  me,  and  the  an- 


4io  THE  HISTORY  OF 

swers  I  made  to  all  his  questions  pleased  him  so 
highly  that  it  could  not  fail  to  excite  the  jealousy  of 
those  who  heard  him,  and  to  raise  an  idea  that  I 
was  about  to  become  the  favourite  of  their  noble 
master. 

The  repast  being  finished,  his  Excellency  retired 
into  his  apartment  to  sleep,  while  I,  accompanying 
his  other  attendants,  descended  into  the  lower 
rooms,  where  a  splendid  dinner  was  prepared  for  us. 
The  table,  if  it  had  been  provided  at  the  King's 
charge,  would  not  have  been  so  well  supplied  ;  for, 
although  the  expenses  of  state  prisoners  were  in 
general  paid  by  the  Crown,  his  Majesty  made  no 
allowance  for  this  purpose  to  the  Duke  of  Ossuna, — 
an  additional  trait  of  malice  in  the  conduct  of  the 
Duke's  enemies,  who,  by  an  invidious  distinction,  had 
procured  an  order  of  council  that  he  should  have  the 
privilege  of  living  as  he  pleased  in  the  castle ;  it 
being  but  just,  they  said,  that  a  Viceroy  so  rich 
and  so  magnificent  should  be  permitted  to  live  in  a 
manner  suitable  to  his  accustomed  splendour. 

The  major-domo,  when  dinner  was  over,  desired  a 
private  conversation  with  me  ;  and  taking  me  into  an 
antechamber,  "  Signor  Gonzales,"  said  he,  "  will  it  be 
agreeable  to  you  to  renew  our  acquaintance  with 
each  other?  You  do  not  recollect  me,  I  perceive;  I 
was,  however,  in  Sicily,  and  in  the  service  of  the  Vice- 
roy, when  you  were  one  of  his  pages.  True  it  is,  I 
did  not  then  make  a  very  conspicuous  figure  in  the 
house.  The  obscure  post  I  held  was  not  likely  to 
bri^g  me  much  into  your  notice,  as  it  was  one  of  the 
lowest  in  the  establishment ;  but  I  was  soon  appointed 
to  a  higher  station,  and,  advancing  from  year  to  year, 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  411 

I  was  at  length,  by  the  interest  of  my  sister,  who 
waits  upon  the  Duchess  and  possesses  her  confidence, 
appointed  major-domo." 

"  This/'  replied  I,  "  is  the  way  of  the  world.  I  con- 
gratulate you  on  your  promotion  to  this  high  office, 
and  request  your  friendship." 

"  I,"  replied  he,  "  am  anxious  to  obtain  yours  ;  for 
you  will  soon  be,  if  you  are  not  already,  the  Hephes- 
tion  to  our  Alexander." 

"  Why,  between  ourselves,"  replied  I,  "I  have  the 
happiness  to  be  looked  upon  with  rather  a  favourable 
eye  ;  and  if  you  should  ever  have  occasion  for  my 
good  offices  with  his  Excellency,  I  desire  you  will 
command  me,  and  rely  upon  my  services." 

The  air  of  high  importance  with  which  I  pronounced 
this  sentence  might  probably  induce  the  major-domo 
to  conceive  me  in  no  small  degree  vain  and  arrogant ; 
but,  if  his  real  sentiments  of  my  character  were  un- 
favourable, he  prudently  concealed  them,  and  exhi- 
bited so  warm  a  gratitude  for  the  professions  I  had 
made,  that  we  immediately  entered  into  an  intimacy 
which,  totally  devoid,  as  it  certainly  was,  of  all  moral 
sentiment,  assumed  externally  the  appearances  of 
real  friendship. 

This  domestic  was  sincerely  attached  to  his  master, 
and  had  been  endeavouring,  with  affectionate  anxiety, 
to  contrive  the  means  of  entertaining  him  ;  but,  find- 
ing all  his  efforts  for  this  purpose  entirely  fruitless,  he 
desired  that  I  would  suggest  something  by  which  we 
might  beguile  the  tedious  hours  of  captivity.  "I 
really  cannot  think  of  anything  at  present,"  said  I. 
"The  desponding  disposition  of  the  Duke's  mind, 
however,  must,  if  possible,  be  prevented.     Something 


412  THE  HISTORY  OF 

or  other  must  be  done  to  amuse  and  divert  him. 
Stay  ;  an  idea  occurs  to  me  at  this  moment :  he  is 
extremely  fond,  you  know,  of  theatrical  exhibitions; 
suppose  we  were  to  act  a  play  before  him." 

The  major-domo,  bursting  into  a  fit  of  laughter, 
exclaimed,  "  The  idea  is  excellent ;  and,  if  it  were 
possible  to  collect  a  company  capable  of  carrying  it 
into  execution,  I  should  approve  very  highly  of  the 
scheme;  but,  among  the  thirty  servants  which  at 
present  compose  the  Duke's  establishment,  there  is 
not,  I  am  sure,  a  single  person  who  is  capable  of 
recitation." 

"  So  much  the  better,"  replied  I ;  "  bad  actors 
sometimes  afford  the  highest  pleasure.  Good  actors 
might  perhaps  make  his  Excellency  yawn,  but  very 
bad  ones  must  infallibly  divert  him  ;  for  the  more 
ridiculous  such  an  exhibition  is,  the  more  entertain- 
ing I  always  find  it.     Shall  we  make  the  essay?" 

"Willingly,"  replied  the  major-domo;  "I  will 
undertake  to  bring  here  from  Madrid,  to-morrow,  a 
volume  of  excellent  comedies;  and  we  will  select  one 
that  is  most  likely  to  afford  his  Excellency  pleasure." 

While  we  were  conversing  upon  this  subject,  the 
Duke's  page  acquainted  us  that  his  Excellency  had 
just  risen  from  his  couch,  and  desired  to  see  me. 
On  entering  his  apartment,  "O  Vanillo  !  "  exclaimed 
he,  "assist  me  to  dissipate  the  effect  of  a  dreadful 
dream  which  has  disturbed  my  repose:  the  deep 
impression  it  has  made  on  my  mind  seems  indelible. 
You  will  perhaps  tell  me  that  dreams  are  the  unreal 
mockeries  of  sleep,  to  which  no  credence  should  be 
given, — and  so  I  have  always  thought ;  but  such  is 
my  present  weakness,  that  I  confess  to  you  I  cannot 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  413 

help  thinking  that  those  which  have  lately  troubled 
me  are  secret  omens  from  Heaven  of  my  approaching 
fate." 

"  How  !  my  lord,"  exclaimed  I,  "  is  it  possible  that 
a  dream  can  have  made  so  powerful  an  impression 
upon  so  firm  a  mind  ?     I  am  astonished" 

"  Listen  to  me  seriously,  Vanillo,"  said  his  Excel- 
lency; "attend,  while  I  disclose  to  you  the  parti- 
culars of  this  alarm.  I  conceived  myself  seated  in  a 
superb  saloon,  where  Benevento  and  Olivarez  seemed 
to  approach  me  with  courtesy  and  condescension, 
each  of  them  striving  who  should  afford  the  greater 
demonstration  of  kindness;  but  at  length,  methought 
they  led  me  into  a  wild  and  dreary  waste,  overrun 
with  thorns  and  briars,  where  they  left  me  entangled 
to  explore  my  way  in  painful  solitude  through  the 
horrid  scene;  and,  in  endeavouring  to  extricate  my- 
self, I  suddenly  awoke.  What  think  you,  my  good 
friend,  of  this  dreadful  dream  ?  I,  alas !  fear  it 
bodes  no  good.  The  plausibility  with  which  these 
inveterate  enemies  appeared  before  me,  indicates,  to 
my  apprehension,  that  they  are  at  this  moment 
meditating  new  schemes  against  me;  and  the  inex- 
tricable situation  into  which  I  thought  they  led  me, 
clearly  imports  that  my  present  miserable  captivity 
will  end  only  with  my  life." 

"Oh!  my  good  lord,"  exclaimed  I,  "why  will 
you  thus  ingeniously  torment  your  mind  by  ex- 
plaining so  disadvantageously  the  confused  notices 
which  generally  accompany  the  moments  of  per- 
turbed  repose?  You  resemble  a  state  prisoner  who 
was,  not  many  years  ago,  confined  in  the  castle  of 
Segovia,  and  became  the  victim  of  his  own  imaginary 


4U  THE  HISTORY  OF 

predictions.     I   will  relate  to  you  the  circumstances 
of  this  singular  event: 

"Don  Guillam  de  Medina  del  Campo,  a  gentle- 
man of  the  province  of  Leon,  having  been  accused 
of  holding  a  traitorous  correspondence  with  the 
insurgents  in  Catalonia,  was  arrested  by  an  order 
from  the  King,  and  committed  to  close  confinement 
in  the  castle  of  Segovia.  While  the  proceedings 
against  him  were  preparing,  his  wife  and.  daughter 
daily  presented  themselves  before  the  window  of 
the  dungeon  in  which  he  was  confined,  the  grate 
of  which  commanded  a  view  of  the  surrounding 
country,  and  endeavoured,  by  their  gestures  and 
other  significant  signs,  to  excite  in  his  mind  the 
hope,  not  only  of  a  favourable,  but  speedy  judg- 
ment. The  trial  was  at  length  appointed,  and  the 
prisoner  was  acquitted.  The  wife  arid  daughter, 
being  immediately  informed  of  this  happy  event, 
presented  themselves,  in  the  midst  of  their  domestics, 
before  the  window  of  the  dungeon.  The  domestics 
were  charged  with  baskets  of  the  richest  fruits,  the 
choicest  wines,  and  other  articles ; — for  the  wife  and 
daughter  of  the  prisoner  conceived  that  the  display 
of  a  feast  would  clearly  and  unequivocally  inform 
the  prisoner,  who  observed  their  preparations,  that 
the  event  of  the  trial  was  in  his  favour.  No  sooner, 
however,  had  the  domestics  spread  the  table-cloth 
upon  the  grass,  in  order  to  arrange  the  dishes  in 
proper  form,  than  the  misguided  imagination  of  the 
prisoner  became  suddenly  alarmed.  Instead  of 
giving  a  favourable  interpretation  to  the  demon- 
strations of  joy  his  fond  family  exhibited  before 
him,    he   considered    them    as   presages   of  his   ap- 


VAN1LL0  GONZALES.  415 

proaching  fate.  The  table-cloth,  in  his  disordered 
fancy,  represented  a  shroud.  This  emblem  of  mor- 
tality convinced  him  that  he  was  doomed  to  die, 
and  the  fears  it  inspired  cost  him  his  life."* 

A  smile  pervaded  the  countenance  of  the  Duke, 
as  I  concluded  this  anecdote.  "This  Don  Guillam," 
said  he,  "  had  indeed  a  very  perturbed  imagination." 

"Your  Excellency's  imagination  is  not  less  so," 
replied  I  ;  "  you  shall  not  be  interpreter  of  my  dreams. 
The  enmity  of  the  two  noblemen  may  at  this 
moment  be  subsided.  Instead  of  still  meditating 
your  destruction,  they  perhaps  repent  of  having 
oppressed  you." 

"  How  little,  alas  !  do  you,  Vanillo,  know  of  states- 
men," replied  the  Duke  ;  "  be  assured  from  me,  that 
the  hatred  of  a  political  rival  is  unconquerable  while 
the  object  of  it  exists.  The  dream,  perhaps,  I  may 
have  explained  improperly  ;  but  time  alone  can 
reveal  my  error." 

Observing  that  the  freedom  with  which  I  disclosed 
my  sentiments  pleased  and  entertained  his  Excellency, 
I  continued  mv  conversation  with  him  ;  and  havingr 
during  the  afternoon,  related  to  him  the  sequel  of  my 
adventures,  I  retired  to  rest. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  following  day  the 
maitre-d'hotel  brought  me  the  volume  of  comedies 
which  he  had  received  from  Madrid  ;  the  immortal 
Lopez  de  Vega  was  the  author  of  it.  We  selected 
the  celebrated  comedy  of  U Ambaxador  de  si-mismo, 
or  the  Self-created  Ambassador — the  subject  of  which 
is,  in  few  words,  as  follows  : 

A  young  king  of  Leon,  wishing  to  espouse  a 
princess  of  Castile  whose  charms  he  had  heard  cele- 


4*6  THE  HISTORY  OF 

brated,  resolved  to  visit  the  court  of  her  father  in 
disguise.  He  accordingly  assumed  the  character  of 
his  own  ambassador;  attended  the  court  of  the 
Castilian  king;  demanded  his  daughter  in  marriage; 
and,  after  surmounting  a  variety  of  obstacles,  at 
length  obtained  her  hand  in  marriage. 

"  This  comedy  will  suit  us  extremely  well,"  said  I  ; 
"and  our  first  care  must  be  to  cast  the  parts,  and 
deliver  copies  of  them  to  the  respective  performers." 

"  As  to  the  actors,"  replied  he,  "  I  have  among 
others  two  who  are  exactly  of  the  kind  you  described ; 
for,  as  your  main  design  is  to  make  his  Excellency 
laugh,  they  may,  as  to  this  purpose,  be  considered 
incomparable  originals.  The  one  is  Gaspard  Mocil- 
lero,  the  cook,  and  the  other  Joseph  de  Magoz,  nick- 
named in  the  household,  '  El  gracioso  de  la  Cozina,' 
from  the  talent  of  buffoonery,  and  the  thousand  ridi- 
culous antics  he  possesses,  to  create  diversion." 

"  Good,"  replied  I,  "they  shall  perform  comic  parts  ; 
two  of  the  characters,  therefore,  are  already  filled  ; 
but  where  shall  we  find  actresses,  particularly  one 
capable  of  representing  the  Princess  of  Castile?" 

"She  is  already  found,"  replied  the  major-domo. 
"  There  is  among  the  Duke's  pages  a  tail  youth  of 
a  fair  complexion  and  slender  form  ;  and  who,  even 
to  the  sound  of  his  voice,  is  so  completely  effeminate, 
that  he  is  distinguished  by  the  appellation  of  Don 
Seraphina.  Floxo  ;  and  his  person  is  perfectly  well 
suited  to  his  name." 

Transcribing  accordingly  the  several  parts  of  the 
drama,  and  delivering  each  to  the  performer  whose 
talents  we  conceived  it  would  best  suit,  we  enjoined 
our  company  to  perfect   themselves  as  soon  as  pos- 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  417 

sible  ;  and,  inexperienced  as  they  certainly  were  in 
tasks  of  this  kind,  they  were  able,  in  about  a  week, 
to  recite  their  several  parts  with  tolerable  accuracy. 

As  the  object  of  this  whimsical  exhibition  was  to 
elevate  and  surprise  the  Duke's  mind,  I  conceived 
that  our  intention  ought  to  be  executed  with  all 
possible  secrecy  ;  but  my  brother  manager,  appre- 
hensive that  his  Excellency  might  conceive  this 
species  of  entertainment  improper  under  his  present 
circumstances,  differed  from  me  in  opinion  ;  and,  as 
it  was  necessary  that  this  point  should  be  settled 
before  we  proceeded  further,  I  repaired  immediately 
to  the  Duke's  apartment. 

The  Duke,  on  my  entering  the  room,  addressed  me 
with  a  smile.  "  Gonzales,"  said  he,  "tell  me  candidly, 
are  you  not  tired  of  your  confinement  to  the  castle  ? " 

"  No,  really,  sir,"  replied  I,  "  I  shall  never  be  tired 
of  it  in  the  company  of  such  a  master.  And  neither 
Don  Gabriel,  your  Excellency's  major-domo,  nor 
myself  will  be  to  blame  if  we  do  not  relieve  you 
from  occasional  despondency  by  certain  little  enter- 
tainments which  we  have  been  contriving  to  exhibit. 
We  are  already  prepared  with  one  that  I  think  your 
Excellency  will  not  disapprove.  We  propose  to  act 
a  play  before  you." 

"  Take  good  care,"  replied  his  Grace  ;  "  a  troop  of 
strollers  cannot  be  admitted  into  the  castle  without 
the  permission  of  the  governor,  who,  not  being  one 
of  my  frieuds,  will  most  likely  refuse  such  a  request." 

"  Oh ! "  exclaimed  I,  "  we  do  not  require  the 
assistance  of  strollers.  The  piece  shall  be  repre- 
sented by  actors  selected  from  your  own  domestics." 

"  Oh  I    that    is    another   thing,"    replied    he ;    "  an 

::  D 


41 8  THE  HISTORY  OF 

entertainment  of  that  kind  I  may,  I  think,  readily 
admit,  without  the  dread  of  reproach  ;  but,"  added 
he,  tossing  his  head  with  a  disdainful  air,  "I  doubt  a 
little  the  abilities  of  your  actors." 

"  Your  doubt  is  groundless,  sir,"  replied  I  ;  "  they 
are,  generally  speaking,  excellent  performers.  There 
are  many  in  the  Theatre  Royal  who  have  not  more 
merit.  In  short,  I  am  certain  the  exhibition  will 
afford  you  pleasure." 

"Upon  that  assurance,"  replied  the  Duke,  "  I  will 
no  longer  oppose  your  benevolent  design." 

The  Duke,  having  signified  his  assent  to  our 
scheme,  I  returned  to  my  brother  manager ;  and, 
after  a  long  consultation,  we  agreed  to  take  different 
departments  in  the  management  of  our  new  theatre. 
He  consented  to  take  upon  him  the  office  of  pro- 
perty man,  and  provide,  according  to  his  own  fancy, 
different  dresses  for  the  actors;  while  the  more  im- 
portant task  of  prompter,  to  make  them  recite  their 
several  parts  with  proper  emphasis,  was  assigned  to 
me.  The  rehearsals  were  well  worth  hearing  ;  when 
an  actor  declaimed  very  badly,  or  put  himself  into 
ridiculous  postures,  which  was  generally  the  case,  he 
received  my  warmest  applause.  "Bravo!"  cried  I, 
"that  is  right;  keep  to  that  tone  and  it  will  do, 
mind  and  preserve  that  fine  attitude  ;  his  Excellency 
will  be  delighted  with  your  performances." 

The  piece  itself,  saving  the  respect  due  to  the 
memory  of  the  immortal  author,  was  badly  written  ; 
and,  in  addition,  the  lines  were  so  wretchedly  pro- 
nounced, that  the  voice  of  the  prompter  was  heard 
at  the  close  of  every  verse. 

About  an  hour  previous  to  the  commencement  of 


VAN1LL0  GONZALES.  419 

the  play,  the  Duchess  of  Ossuna  and  her  son,  Don 
Juan,  arrived  at  the  castle,  accompanied  by  a  few 
select  friends,  whom  the  Duke,  on  a  persuasion  of 
its  being  highly  diverting,  had  invited  to  behold  the 
spectacle. 

What  rendered  the  scene  still  more  ludicrous  was 
that  Don  Gabriel  had  resorted  to  a  clothes-shop  in 
Madrid,  and  purchased  different  dresses  of  the  most 
fanciful  kind,  but  as  unfit  for  the  characters  to  which 
they  were  respectively  appropriated,  as  they  were 
for  the  persons  of  those  who  wore  them  :  each  actor, 
therefore,  produced  an  effect  upon  the  audience  the 
moment  he  appeared.  Among  others,  I  remember 
that  Gaspard  Mocillero,  the  cook,  who  represented 
the  Majesty  of  Leon,  no  sooner  appeared  on  the 
stage,  than  the  absurdity  of  his  dress  excited  a  roar 
of  laughter ;  even  the  Viceroy  could  no  longer  con- 
tain his  gravity.  But  if  his  muscles  were  relaxed 
by  the  oddity  of  Mociliero's  dress,  his  ridiculous 
attitudes  afforded  a  still  greater  subject  of  laughter  ; 
he  could  no  longer  resist  the  impulse  ;  and  the  whole 
company,  perceiving  him  so  well  inclined  to  dispel 
his  spleen,  heartily  followed  his  example. 

Joseph  de  Magoz,  the  Gracioso  de  la  Cozina, 
played  the  part  of  the  king's  confidant ;  and,  like 
his  master,  afforded  his  audience  great  entertain- 
ment. The  very  sight  of  his  person,  indeed,  pro- 
voked risibility ;  he  was  a  species  of  dwarf,  strangely 
shaped,  and  his  entree  greatly  increased  the  mirth 
of  the  company;  but  it  is  impossible  to  describe 
the  high  entertainment  which  the  natural  primness 
and  affected  airs  of  the  tall  page,  who  personated 
the    Princess   of  Castile,  produced.      Self-love   pre- 


420  THE  HISTORY  OF 

vented  him  from  discovering  his  absurdities.  The 
company,  however,  severely  censured  his  ridiculous 
vanity  by  applauding  him  with  that  humiliating 
clap  of  hands,  which  is  sometimes  practised  at  the 
royal  theatres,  when  the  audience  mean  to  disapprove 
of  the  acting  of  the  players,  or  the  composition  of 
the  author;  and  the  piece  concluded  just  in  time 
to  prevent  the  company  being  fatigued  with  their 
entertainment. 

"  I  must  acknowledge,  my  lord,"  said  the  Duchess 
to  her  husband,  "  that  you  appear  to  have  been  much 
delighted." 

"  Madam,"  replied  he,  "  I  owe  my  entertainment  to 
Gonzales,  who  sagaciously  conceived  that  a  play 
represented  by  such  actors  could  not  fail  of  diver- 
sion." 

"  I  am  happy,"  replied  Donna  Catherina,  "  to  find 
that  Gonzales  possesses  the  talent  of  contriving 
these  amusements  for  you  ;  and  I  request  that  he 
will  redouble  his  endeavours  to  banish  from  your 
mind  the  sorrowful  ideas  by  which  it  is  frequently 
depressed." 

"  The  commencement  of  his  endeavours  is  excel- 
lent," said  the  Duke  ;  "  and  though  he  has  been  with 
me  so  short  a  time,  I  find  that  he  is  capable  of  con- 
siderably alleviating,  if  he  cannot  entirely  subdue, 
my  afflictions." 

1  he  Viceroy,  by  these  words,  greatly  strengthened 
my  interest  with  the  Duchess  and  Don  Juan,  who, 
from  the  new  testimonies  of  friendship  they  afforded 
me,  confirmed  the  hope  I  entertained  of  being  amply 
recompensed. 


VAN1LL0  GONZALES.  421 


CHAPTER   LI. 

THE  DUKE,  NOTWITHSTANDING  ALL  THE  CARE  OP 
VANILLO,  FALLS  INTO  A  DESPONDENCY  WHICH  NO- 
THING    COULD     DISSIPATE THE      UNHAPPY      EVENT 

WHICH    SOON   FOLLOWED    IT. 

DURING  the  course  of  three  weeks  I  was  enabled, 
with  the  assistance  of  the  principal  domestics,  to 
amuse  his  Excellency.  We  exerted  ourselves  in 
every  possible  way  to  dispel  the  melancholy  that 
preyed  upon  his  mind,  and  we  had  every  reason  to 
rejoice  in  our  success.  Our  congratulations,  how- 
ever, upon  this  subject  were  of  short  duration. 
The  gout,  with  which  he  was  occasionally  afflicted, 
attacked  him  so  violently  that,  instead  of  attending 
to  our  amusements,  he  abandoned  his  mind  to  the 
sorrows  his  situation  inspired;  and  all  that  we  could 
either  say  or  do,  to  alleviate  his  chagrin,  produced  ho 
effect. 

Observing  that  our  efforts  were  vain,  "  Sir,"  said  I, 
"  we  are  at  a  loss  whose  assistance  to  implore  to 
relieve  your  Excellency  from  the  languor  into  which 
you  appear  to  have  lately  fallen.  Do  not  suffer 
your  fortitude  to  be  vanquished  on  the  very  eve, 
perhaps,  of  your  emancipation.  Revive  your  de- 
jected spirits.  Recollect  how  much  it  tarnishes  a 
great  and  heroic  character,  not  to  endure  misfortune 
with  magnanimity.  If  you  fall  under  the  frowns  of 
fortune,  you   will   only   add    to   the   felicity  of  your 


422  THE  HISTORY  OF 

enemies.  Do  not  afford  this  triumph  to  their  male- 
volence." 

"  What  would  you  have  me  do  ?  "  replied  the  Duke. 
"  While  any  hope  of  being  released  from  these  walls 
remained,  I  patiently  endured  my  sufferings ;  but 
hope  is  now  no  more,  and  I  perceive  that  my  ene- 
mies intend  to  detain  me  in  prison  for  the  remainder 
of  my  life." 

"  No,  no,  sir !  "  replied  I ;  "  do  not  permit  such  an 
idea  to  disturb  your  mind.  Heaven  will,  I  hope, 
prevent  so  unmerited  a  fate." 

While  I  was  proceeding  to  display  the  most  con- 
solatory observations  my  zeal  and  eloquence  could 
furnish  me  with,  Don  Juan  Telles  entered  the  room. 
"  Oh  !  my  lord,"  cried  I,  "  you  could  not  have  come 
more  opportunely.  Aid  me  to  banish  the  vain  fears 
which  have  suddenly  seized  the  mind  of  my  beloved 


master." 


On  hearing  these  words,  which  I  pronounced  with 
the  tenderest  emotion  (for  I  really  felt  a  warm 
attachment  for  the  Viceroy),  Don  Juan  asked  me 
the  cause  of  his  father's  fears. 

"He  fears,"  said  I,  "that  he  is  deprived  for  ever 
of  his  liberty." 

The  young  lord,  addressing  himself  to  the  Duke, 
"Do  not,  my  dear  father,"  said  he,  "listen  to  the  vain 
fears  which  agitate  your  mind.  The  news  of  this 
day  ought  to  remove  every  apprehension.  At  the 
King's  levee  this  morning,  the  Count  declared  his 
surprise  at  your  being  detained  a  prisoner,  after  the 
answers  you  had  given  to  the  interrogatories  ;  acknow- 
ledging that  they  afforded  incontestible  proofs,  both 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  423 

of'  your  innocence  and  of  the  important  services  you 
have  rendered  to  the  crown  of  Spain." 

"This  was  the  observation  of  an  invidious  enemy," 
interrupted  the  Duke  precipitately;  "this  minister 
still  hates  me,  or  why  does  he  not  espouse  my  cause, 
since  he  says  I  am  unjustly  detained  a  prisoner?  No, 
no,  my  dear  son,  judge  more  correctly  of  this  states- 
man's character,  by  believing,  that  while  he  seems 
to  lament  my  situation,  the  traitor  only  regrets  that 
I  was  not  condemned  to  die.  I  am  convinced  of  his 
animosity  towards  me.  Ties  of  the  closest  nature 
have  connected  me  with  the  house  of  Sandoval,  and 
a  man  who  has  been  once  favoured  by  the  Duke  of 
Lerma  can  never  expect  the  friendship  of  the  Count 
Olivarez." 

An  attempt  to  remove  auy  opinion  which  the 
Viceroy  had  once  deliberately  adopted,  was  like 
beating  the  air.  Don  Juan,  therefore,  who  knew 
his  character,  forbore  to  contradict  him,  and  only 
observed,  that  the  minister,  being  now  conscious 
that  his  power  was  established  beyond  the  danger 
of  opposition,  might  perhaps  be  softened  in  his 
resentments. 

"Excuse  me,"  replied  the  Duke;  "he  has  fre- 
quently, in  the  presence  of  the  King,  darted  sarcasms 
£t  me,  which  I  have  answered  by  such  severe  replies 
as  he  will  never  forget." 

"Well,"  replied  Don  Juan,  "however  it  may  be, 
let  me  implore  you,  my  dear  father,  not  to  despair. 
Banish  dejection;  abandon  this  fatal  melancholy; 
reassume  your  spirits;  the  interests  and  affections 
of  your  family  exact  from  you  this  exertion." 

These    exhortations,    pronounced     in    the     mo«f 


424  THE  HISTORY  OF  " 

pathetic  manner  by  an  affectionate  child,  appeared 
to  make  great  impression  on  the  mind  of  a  tender 
parent;  but  the  idea  of  never  regaining  his  power 
at  Court  recurred,  and  plunged  him  into  a  deep 
despair,  at  the  very  moment  when  he  seemed  to  re- 
assume  his  courage. 

The  ensuing  day,  his  Excellency,  so  far  from  hav- 
ing tranquillised  his  mind  by  philosophic  reflections, 
appeared  more  disturbed  and  agitated  than  ever. 
The  gout,  also,  to  increase  his  calamities,  returned 
with  double  violence.  During  a  period  of  three 
weeks  he  continued  to  languish;  and  one  evening, 
as  he  was  walking  across  the  room,  leaning  one 
arm  on  me,  and  supporting  himself  on  the  other 
side  with  a  crutch,  he  was  seized  with  an  apoplexy. 
Calling  for  help,  I  conveyed  him,  with  the  assistance 
of  two  of  his  domestics,  to  his  bed,  where  he  lay 
three  hours  entirely  senseless.  Another  servant, 
while  he  was  in  this  distressful  situation,  went  with 
all  possible  despatch  to  Madrid,  to  announce  the  sad 
tidings  to  his  wife  and  son,  who  came  immediately 
to  the  castle,  accompanied  by  two  physicians  ;  but 
they  attended  rather  to  be  witnesses  of  his  death 
than  to  use  endeavours  to  save  his  life.  Pretensions 
of  assistance,  however,  were  made,  and  some  medi- 
cines even  were  administered  ;  but  they  only  served 
to  precipitate  his  end  ;  for  two  days  afterwards  he 
resigned  his  life,  in  the  arms  of  his  wife,  and  in  the 
embraces  of  his  son. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  425 


CHAPTER    LI  I. 


,) 


THE  CONSEQUENCES  OF  THE  DUKE  OF  OSS UNA S  DEATH, 
AND  THE  CONSOLATION  WHICH  THE  KING  AFFORDED 
TO  HIS  WIFE  AND  SON — VANILLO  ENTERS  INTO  THE 
SERVICE  OF  DON  JUAN  TELLES. 

The  governor  of  the  castle  no  sooner  heard  of  the 
death  of  his  prisoner  than  he  conveyed  information 
of  it  to  the  Prime  Minister,  who  went  immediately 
and  announced  it  to  the  King.  The  Sovereign,  as 
well  as  his  Prime  Minister,  were,  it  is  said,  affected 
by  the  event ;  but  I  do  not  advance  this  as  an 
unquestionable  fact.  The  King,  however,  certainly 
despatched  a  nobleman  of  the  first  distinction  to  the 
Duchess,  to  offer  to  her  from  him  his  compliments 
of  condolence,  with  orders  to  assure  her  that  her 
son  Don  Juan  Telles  should  be  appointed  to  the 
Viceroyalty  of  Sicily,  as  an  acknowledgment  to 
him  of  his  father's  services.  This  mark  of  contri- 
tion, if  it  did  not  entirely  console  the  mother  and 
the  son,  moderated  in  some  degree  the  excess  of 
their  affliction. 

The  interment  of  the  Duke  was  performed  with- 
out pomp,  and  in  the  manner  he  had  frequently 
desired.  I  mean  to  be  understood  that  he  was 
buried  under  the  habit  of  an  Augustine  father. 
His  grave  was  plentifully  bedewed  with  tears :  the 
grief  of  his  numerous  domestics  was  loud  and  bitter; 
for  they  had  heard  that  he  had  died  intestate.     Even 


426  THE  HISTORY  OF 

I,  though  I  shed  some  unfeigned  tears  in  friendship 
for  so  kind  a  master,  could  not  sometimes  avoid 
regretting  the  hours  I  had  lost  in  voluntarily  con- 
fining myself  with  him  in  the  prison  of  Almeda; 
nor  forget  the  magnificent  promises  I  had  received, 
which  were  now  worth  nothing.  In  short,  while  we 
were  all  of  us  waiting  in  sorrowful  expectation  of 
receiving  no  more  than  our  salaries,  a  rumour  pre- 
vailed that  the  Duke,  about  a  month  before  he  died, 
had  made  a  codicil,  as  if  by  presentiment  that  he 
was  doomed  to  expire  within  the  walls  of  the  castle; 
and  that,  so  far  from  forgetting  any  of  his  attendants, 
he  had  left  to  all  of  them  very  handsome  legacies, 
proportioned  to  the  nature  of  the  offices  they  respec- 
tively held  in  his  household  :  and  indeed,  a  few  days 
after  his  obsequies  were  performed,  Donna  Catherina 
called  us  together,  and  having  ordered  her  secretary 
to  read  the  codicil,  said,  "  Whenever  any  of  you 
choose  to  receive  your  legacy,  my  banker  shall  pay 
it.  But  this  is  not  all,"  added  she  ;  "if  you  choose  to 
return  to  Sicily  with  the  new  Viceroy,  you  shall  each 
of  you  receive  your  former  salary." 

The  Duchess  had  scarcely  finished  these  words 
before  the  greater  part  of  the  assembly  testified 
their  inclination  to  accompany  Don  Juan  ;  the  others, 
preferring  their  own  country  to  Italy,  took  measures 
for  their  continuance  in  Spain. 

Donna  Catherina  appeared  surprised  to  find  that 
I  was  among  those  who  had  testified  no  inclination 
to  revisit  Palermo.  "  Vanillo,"  said  she,  "I  have 
been  flattering  myself  that  you  would  not  withhold 
from  my  son  the  same  attachment  you  professed 
to   his    father ;   but   you    appear  to   have  alienated 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  42) 

your  mind  from  the  family,  and  show  no  inclination 
to  accompany  us  to  Sicily." 

"  Madam,"  replied  I,  "  Sicily  is  a  country  which, 
when  I  consider  the  mortifications  I  felt  there, 
cannot  be  very  pleasing  to  me  ;  but  whatever  occa- 
sion I  may  have  had  to  hate  it,  I  should  very  will- 
ingly return,  if  I  were  persuaded  that  my  services 
would  be  as  acceptable  to  the  present  Viceroy  as 
they  were  to  his  predecessor." 

"  You  will  have  no  reason  to  doubt  that,"  replied 
Donna  Catherina  ;  "  my  son  is  extremely  partial  to 
you  ;  he  considers  you  as  adopted  by  the  family, 
and  you  will  be,  among  his  principal  agents,  the 
one  who  will  possess  his  entire  confidence." 

The  Duchess  had  no  occasion  to  say  anything 
more  to  induce  me  to  engage  in  the  service  of  her 
son  ;  and  Don  Juan,  who  came  in  at  this  conjuncture, 
learning  the  subject  of  our  conversation,  confirmed 
all  his  mother  had  said;  he  even  added,  that  it  was 
his  inclination  to  appoint  me  his  principal  valet, 
his  confidential  friend,  his  Thomas  ;  and  a  situation 
so  high  and  distinguished,  with  a  young  and  gallant 
nobleman,  appeared  to  me  so  flattering  and  advan- 
tageous, that  I  no  longer  hesitated  of  accepting  it. 


428  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER  LIII. 

THE  DEPARTURE  OF  THE  NEW  GOVERNOR,  AND  THE  ACCI' 
DENT  WHICH  PREVENTED  VANILLO  FROM  ACCOMPANY- 
ING HIM  TO  SICILY — THE  CONSEQUENCES  OF  THIS 
ACCIDENT. 

DON  Juan  succeeded  to  the  titles  of  his  deceased 
father;  and,  by  the  unexpected  favour  of  the  crown, 
was  put  into  immediate  possession  of  his  confiscated 
estates.  The  King,  indeed,  by  these  acts  of  kindness 
seemed  only  to  second  the  wishes  of  all  ranks  and 
orders  of  his  subjects  ;  for  the  enmity  which  had 
pursued  the  family  during  the  prosperity  of  the  Duke, 
was  entirely  buried  in  his  grave. 

The  new  Viceroy  no  sooner  heard  that  the  six  ships 
which  had  been  appointed  to  convey  him  to  Palermo 
were  ready,  than  he  took  leave  of  his  royal  benefactor, 
and  departed  for  Barcelona,  accompanied  by  his  wife, 
Donna  Isabella  ;  it  being  thought  more  prudent  for 
Donna  Catherina  to  remain  at  court,  in  order  to 
cultivate  and  support  a  powerful  interest  in  favour  of 
her  beloved  son.  The  aged  Thomas,  whom  she  knew 
possessed  an  excellent  judgment,  and  whose  gouty 
complaints  rendered  it  of  little  use  for  him  to  accom- 
pany the  new  Viceroy,  also  continued  at  Madrid. 
The  pleasure  and  profit  I  had  long  promised  myself 
from  this  expedition,  through  the  interests  of  Quivillo, 
who  enjoyed  in  a  high  degree  the  confidence  and 
friendship  of  the  new  Viceroy,  my  adverse  stars  pre- 
vented me  from  reaping. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  429 

On  the  evening  of  the  day  fixed  for  our  departure, 
I  was  unfortunately  seized  with  a  violent  fever,  which 
increased  so  rapidly,  that  my  life  was  thought  in 
danger.  A  physician  was  immediately  sent  for,  who, 
although  he  was  scarcely  thirty  years  of  age,  had 
perhaps  already  despatched  more  patients  than 
Hippocrates  himself.  This  seventh  son,  after  a  very 
profound  consideration  of  my  case,  wrote  a  prescrip- 
tion, consisting  of  frog's  gall  and  baked  wheat,  which, 
he  observed,  according  to  the  opinion  of  Pliny,  was 
an  unerring  febrifuge  in  all  cases;  but  I  no  sooner 
tasted  this  compound  than  I  was  seized  with  such 
strong  convulsions,  that  the  doctor  seemed  perfectly 
satisfied  I  should  soon  have  no  occasion  for  any 
other  medicine.  I  continued  delirious  for  three  days. 
During  this  time  I  was  again  attacked,  not  only  by 
the  doctor,  but  by  his  coadjutors,  the  surgeon  and 
the  apothecary,  in  such  a  variety  of  ways,  that  they 
seemed  resolved  I  should  ultimately  tell  no  tales. 
By  the  greatest  miracle  imaginable,  however,  I  at 
length  escaped  alive  from  their  hands. 

The  moment  I  thought  my  health  sufficiently 
established  to  undertake  the  journey,  I  departed 
from  Madrid  with  a  returning  muleteer  for  Barcelona; 
and  we  travelled  so  expeditiously,  that  we  arrived 
there  at  the  end  of  eight  days.  My  conductor  carried 
me  to  St.  Andrew's  Gate,  in  the  New  Town,  and  set 
me  down  at  the  sign  of  the  Phoenix,  an  hotel  of  very 
decent  appearance. 

"I  have  brought  you  here,"  said  he,  "in  prefer- 
ence to  any  other  place,  for  several  reasons ;  you 
will  here  find  a  neat  room,  a  comfortable  bed,  excel- 
lent fare,  and,  what  ought  to   make  a  considerable 


430  THE  HISTORY  OF 

part  of  your  pleasure,  you  will  behold  in  your 
hostess  a  young  and  charming  widow,  extremely 
good-humoured,  and  extremely  sensible." 

"So  much  the  worse,"  replied  I,  jokingly;  "her 
merits  are  mortifying  to  a  traveller  who  has  not 
time  to  make  love ;  for  if  I  should  find  an  oppor- 
tunity to-morrow  to  embark  for  Italy,  I  must 
embrace  it." 

Just  as  I  had  ended  this  sentence,  the  hostess 
entered  the  room. 

"  Here  she  is,"  cried  the  muleteer ;  "  does  she 
not  deserve  a  guest  of  your  consequence  ?  Look 
attentively  at  her  figure." 

I  was,  I  confess,  struck  with  her  beauty,  and  still 
more  by  the  easy  and  natural  style  of  her  conver- 
sation. She  showed  me,  with  great  politeness,  the 
chamber  in  which  I  was  to  sleep,  which  I  attri- 
buted to  the  muleteer  having,  on  our  arrival  at  the 
hotel,  announced  me  as  one  of  the  principal  attend- 
ants on  the  Duke  of  Ossuna,  the  new  Viceroy  of 
Sicily.  To  pay.  on  my  side,  that  tribute  which 
every  man  of  gallantry  owes  to  a  pretty  woman,  I 
made  a  thousand  flattering  speeches  to  her,  which 
she  answered  with  equal  good  sense  and  modesty. 
The  conversation  in  wliich  we  engaged  insensibly, 
convinced  me  that,  amiable  as  her  person  certainly 
was,  her  mind  possessed  superior  charms. 

On  the  first  suspension  of  the  conversation,  she 
retired  and  left  me  with  the  muleteer,  who  asked 
me  what  I  thought  of  such  a  widow. 

"I  am  of  opinion,"  said  I,  "that  a  man  can 
nowhere  be  so  well  attached.  In  what  part  of 
Spain    was    she    born  ?     She    does    honour   to    her 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  431 

country.     I  am  sure  she  is  descended  from  a  good 
family." 

"  I  am  ignorant  who  were  her  parents,"  said  the 
muleteer ;  "  I  only  know  that  she  is  a  native  of  the 
city  of  Murcia." 

My  heart  bounded  in  my  bosom  at  these  words, 
and  I  felt  a  strong  kind  of  anxiety,  without  knowing 
why  or  wherefore.  "  By  heavens  ! "  said  I  to  myself, 
"if  this  young  widow  should  be  my  sister  Inesilla,  it 
would  be  an  extraordinary  circumstance.  It  is  very 
probable;  yet  surely  it  cannot  be.  I  will,  however, 
unravel  the  mystery  this  very  evening,  if  possible." 

"  My  friend,"  said  I  to  the  muleteer,  "  as  I  was 
also  born  in  the  city  of  Murcia,  I  should  be  very 
glad  to  have  a  private  conversation  with  this  widow 
upon  the  subject  of  her  family,  whom  I  ought  to 
know;  especially  if  she  is  not  of  very  low  extraction, 
which  I  cannot  believe.  Go,  I  request  of  you,  and 
tell  her  from  me,  that  I  shall  be  happy  to  converse 
with  her  on  the  subject." 

The  muleteer,  who  went  immediately  to  the 
widow,  informed  me,  on  his  return,  that  she  would 
wait  on  me  immediately:  "  for  I  no  sooner  told  her," 
said  he,  "  that  you  were  from  Murcia,  and  wished 
to  talk  with  her  on  the  subject,  than  she  appeared 
highly  delighted.  Oh !  here  she  is.  Well,  I  will 
leave  you  together,  that  you  may  the  more  freely 
indulge  your  curiosity." 

The  muleteer  accoidingly  retired,  as  the  hostess, 
who  had  immediately  followed  him,  entered  the  room. 


432  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER  LIV. 

VANILLds  CONVERSATION  WITH  THE  WIDOW,  AND  THE 
ASTONISHMENT  OF  BOTH  OF  THEM  ON  DISCOVERING 
WHO    THEY   WERE. 

"  Madam,"  said  I  to  the  widow,  "  I  am  informed 
that  we  were  born  in  the  same  place.  Permit  me 
to  converse  with  you  upon  this  subject,  and  to  take 
the  liberty  of  asking  who  you  are.  It  is  not  an 
idle  curiosity  that  prompts  me  to  make  this  re- 
quest ;  I  have  a  very  particular  reason  for  asking 
you  the  question.  Tell  me,  I  beseech  you,  who 
were  your  parents." 

"  Signior,"  replied  the  widow,  "  I  was  born  in  the 
city  of  Murcia;  and,  though  my  parents  were  not 
noble,  their  condition  was  by  no  means  vulgar:  my 
father,  whom  I  lost  in  early  infancy,  was  a  physi- 
cian, who  had  received  his  education  in  the  univer- 
sitv  of  Alcala." 

"  How!  What  was  his  name?"  exclaimed  I,  with 
precipitation  and  emotion. 

"  His  name  was  Vanillo  Gonzales,"  replied  the 
widow.  "  But,"  added  she,  observing  my  agita- 
tion, "why  are  you  thus  moved?  You  seem  to 
be  interested  in  what  I  say.  Did  you  know  my 
father  ?  " 

"  Oh !  perfectly  well,"  said  I,  "  as  well  as  his  own 
son ;  for,  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  he  had  one  named 
Vanillo." 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  433 

"You  are  not  mistaken,"  said  she,  "Vanillo  is  my 
brother's  name;  but  alas!  poor  boy,  I  am  ignorant 
what  is  become  of  him.  He  quitted  Murcia  one 
morning  secretly,  and  since  that  time  I  have  never 
heard  of  him." 

Tears  ran  down  her  cheeks  as  she  pronounced 
these  words,  which  it  was  impossible  for  me  to 
observe  with  dry  eyes.  Charmed  to  discover  so 
fine  a  sympathy  in  a  sister,  I  instinctively  fol- 
lowed her  example. 

Astonished  at  my  appearing  so  sensible  to  her 
sorrows,  "You  weep,  you  weep,"  exclaimed  she. 
"  Oh  !  you  are — you  are  my  brother !  Your  sen- 
sibility discovers  you.  It  is  Vanillo,  my  brother, 
I  am  speaking  to  1  Acknowledge  it  immediately, 
I  implore  you;  for  every  moment  you  delay  the 
confirmation  of  my  hope,  you  delay  the  happiness 
of  my  life." 

"  Well,  my  sister,"  said  I,  touched  by  the  marks 
of  affection  she  showed,  "  yes,  I  am  your  brother. 
Your  Vanillo  is  before  you." 

In  pronouncing  these  words,  I  opened  my  arms, 
and  we  embraced  each  other  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour, 
without  being  able  otherwise  to  express  the  mutual 
joy  which  overwhelmed  our  hearts. 

The  claims  of  consanguinity  being  in  some  degree 
satisfied  by  this  tender  indulgence  of  sincere  affec- 
tion, we  requested  of  each  other  a  faithful  relation  of 
our  respective  adventures  since  our  departure  from 
Murcia,  and  I  promised  to  detail  a  real  narrative  of 
everything  I  had  met  with,  whether  good  or  bad.  on 
condition  that  she  would  afterwards  relate  to  me, 
with  equal  sincerity,  the  story  of  her  life,  which  she 

2  E 


434  THE  HISTORY  OF 

instantly  consented  to  do ;  but  as  we  had  both  of  us 
much  to  say,  and  I  was  greatly  fatigued  with  my 
journey,  we  thought  it  better  to  postpone  this  reci- 
procal confidence  until  the  ensuing  morning. 

After  partaking  of  an  excellent  supper,  I  retired  to 
bed,  where  I  slept  profoundly  until  nine  o'clock  the 
ensuing  morning,  when,  awaking  fresh  and  gay,  I 
arose,  and  hastily  dressing  myself,  went  to  wait  upon 
my  sister,  whom  I  met  as  I  was  going  out  of  my 
chamber;  when,  retiring  to  her  apartment,  we  sat 
down,  and  without  further  ceremony  I  recounted  my 
exploits,  not  indeed  without  sometimes  concealing 
and  sometimes  colouring  the  truth,  which  I  did  with 
less  scruple,  because  I  was  persuaded  that  my  dear 
sister  would  not  fail  to  do  as  much  in  her  turn,  not- 
withstanding the  solemn  promise  of  sincerity  we  had 
mutually  made. 

A  history  like  mine  always  contains  parts  which 
require  to  be  softened  down,  and  obliges  the  hero  to 
sacrifice  truth  in  order  to  maintain  his  honour.  I 
imitated,  in  short,  those  painters  who,  to  temper  the 
harshness  of  their  tints,  blend  them  nearly  with  each 
other.  Obliged,  for  example,  to  speak  of  the  will 
which  my  uncle  made  in  my  favour,  the  reader  will 
hardly  imagine  I  was  so  foolish  as  to  confess  to  my 
sister  that  1  permitted  his  unjust  suspicions  to  prevail 
against  her,  without  endeavouring  to  remove  them. 
Oh  no  1  I  touched  the  delicate  scene  with  the  pencil 
of  a  master. 

"My  dear  Inesilla,"  said  I,  in  an  affectionate 
manner,  "you  cannot  conceive  how  sensibly  I  was 
mortified  when  I  discovered  that  no  notice  was  taken 
of  you  in  the  will.     Sole  inheritor  as  I  was  of  the 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  435 

fortune  of  our  Uncle  Damien,  I  could  not  help  re- 
proaching his  memory  for  having  forgot  you,  and,  to 
vindicate  your  wrongs,  I  determined  to  divide  all  his 
effects  with  you." 

"Generous  Vanillo ! "  exclaimed  Inesilla,  inter- 
rupting me  in  this  place  and  embracing  me ;  "how 
happy  am  I  in  having  such  a  brother." 

"  Inesilla,"  said  I,  interrupting  her  in  my  turn, 
"instead  of  rejoicing  upon  this  subject,  you  have 
reason  to  complain  that  you  have  so  unfortunate  a 
brother.  The  rich  inheritance  of  our  uncle,  alas! 
the  half  of  which  I  intended  for  you,  is  no  longer  in 
my  possession.  Permit  me  to  conclude  my  history, 
and  you  will  hear  what  became  of  it." 

These  words  seemed  a  little  to  confound  my  co- 
heiress, who,  conceiving  that  I  had  been  robbed  of 
the  inheritance,  grieved  inwardly,  as  it  appeared  to 
me,  on  account  of  her  oart  and  portion.  But  I  was 
unacquainted  with  the  character  of  my  sister  ;  for, 
having  finished  my  story,  my  sister  addressed  me  in 
the  following  manner : — 

"  I  lament,  my  dear  brother,  that  you  have  had 
any  contest  with  the  Inquisition,  since  you  lost  by  it 
such  a  mine  of  wealth.  Do  not,  however,  imagine 
that  I  feel  any  mortification  on  my  own  account ; 
it  would  be  doing  me  great  injustice.  My  sensibility 
to  this  misfortune  is  affected  entirely  by  a  considera- 
tion of  your  interests  ;  for  I  am,  thank  Heaven,  com- 
fortably situated,  and  even  in  a  condition  to  make  a 
proposal  to  you,  which  I  implore  you  not  to  reject. 
Live  hereafter  with  me  ;  let  us  unite  our  fortunes. 
Relinquish  your  intended  voyage  to  Italy.  It  wilJ 
not,   perhaps,    be    more   fortunate   to   you  than  the 


436  THE  HISTORY  OF 

former.  What  has  the  late  Duke  of  Ossuna  done  for 
you  ?  Nothing  :  and  it  is  most  likely  his  son  will  not 
use  you  much  better.  Great  men  are  not  always  to 
be  relied  on.  Where  one  of  them  rewards  his  adher- 
ents with  liberality,  there  are  thirty  who  repay  them 
only  with  ingratitdue.  In  short,  my  dear  brother, 
since  Providence  has  thus  decreed  we  should  meet 
again,  we  will  never  part.  Barcelona  is  a  place  in 
which  a  man  may  pass  his  time  agreeably,  and  I 
assure  you  that  you  shall  never  want  money." 

"How,  Inesilla!"  said  I,  smiling  at  these  last 
words;  "you  excite  high  ideas  of  the  contents  of 
your  strong  box,  and  increase  my  curiosity  to  learn 
the  means  by  which  you  have  enriched  yourself." 

"Your  curiosity  is  natural,"  replied  Inesilla,  "and 
I  will  by-and-by  perform  my  promise,  with  all  the 
sincerity  you  can  possibly  wish." 

My  sister,  having  made  these  observations,  began 
her  history  in  the  following  terms. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  437 


CHAPTER  LV. 

THE  HISTORY  OF  INESILLA,   THE    SISTER    OF    VANILLO, 

A  SHORT  time  after  the  death  of  our  father,  Dr.  Gon- 
zales, you  recollect  that  our  Uncle  Damien  took  you 
under  his  roof  to  teach  you  the  sublime  art  of  sur- 
gery, in  which  he  was  so  profoundly  skilled  ;  and 
placed  me,  when  only  six  years  of  age,  at  the  castle 
of  Cantarilla,  to  be  there  educated  by  my  godfather, 
the  owner  of  it,  and  my  godmother,  who,  during  six 
years,  lived  with  him  upon  terms  that  wore  every 
appearance  of  conjugal  union.  Both  of  them  inter- 
ested themselves  in  the  care  of  my  education;  and, 
fancying  I  possessed  a  disposition  to  return  all  the 
kindness  they  bestowed,  I  became  the  sole  object  of 
their  concern. 

The  sudden  death  of  Don  Isidore  de  Cantarilla, 
my  godfather,  deprived  me  of  his  friendship  while 
I  was  yet  a  minor,  and  left  both  my  godmother 
and  myself,  unprotected  orphans,  to  bewail  his 
loss ;  the  one  from  interest,  and  the  other  from 
affection. 

Scarcely  had  the  breath  left  his  body  before  his  hun- 
gry heirs  repaired  to  the  castle,  from  whence  they 
very  uncivilly  expelled  his  female  friend.  But.  while 
they  continued  untouched  by  the  torrents  o,  tears 
she  -shed  upon  this  occasion,  they  affected  to  feel 
seme  pity  for  me.  The  charms  of  youth,  and  a 
promise  of  increasing   perfections,  in    some    degree 


438  THE  HISTORY  OF 

awakened  their  concern  for  my  situation  ;  and,  on  a 
council  being  called  to  consider  what  they  ought  to 
do  with  me,  an  aunt  of  the  deceased,  an  old  devotee, 
was  of  opinion  that  the  heirs  ought  to  contribute, 
in  certain  proportions,  towards  my  education,  until 
I  should  be  capable  of  providing,  by  servitude,  for 
myself.  But  this  proposal  was  unanimously  re-, 
jected;  the  heirs  being  of  opinion  that  it  would  be 
much  better  to  leave  me  entirely  to  the  care  of  my 
godmother,  than  to  be  at  any  expense  on  my 
account  themselves  ;  and  she  immediately  discovered 
all  the  affection  of  a  mother  for  her  adopted  child, 
by  immediately  assenting  to  take  me  under  her  own 
protection. 

In  vain  did  the  old  devotee  represent  to  them 
the  danger  of  placing  me  under  the  guidance  of  a 
person  of  my  godmother's  character;  they  paid  no 
attention  to  her  remonstrances;  and,  without  em- 
barrassing their  minds  with  any  eonjectures  respect- 
ing my  future  welfare,  surrendered  me  quietly  and 
entirely  to  her  care.  I  accordingly  accompanied 
my  kind  sponsor  to  a  cottage  in  the  vicinity  of 
Alicante,  the  owner  of  which,  an  old  husbandman, 
was  her  near  relation. 

Talego,  for  that  was  the  name  of  our  rustic  bene- 
factor, received  us  with  an  extraordinary  degree  of 
hospitality.  He  was  one  of  those  characters  whose 
arms  are  ever  open  to  receive  a  poor  relation.  He 
had  indeed  always  entertained  a  particular  affection 
for  Signora  Barbarina,  my  godmother,  who  soon 
became  the  absolute  mistress  of  his  house ;  for 
Talego,  who  had  neither  wife  nor  children,  looked  up 
to  her  superior  sense  with  implicit  confidence,  and 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  439 

permitted   her  to  govern  without  the  least  contra- 
diction. 

The  farm  on  which  we  resided  extended  almost  to 
the  gates  of  Alicante,  and  we  daily  visited  the  city, 
where  Barbarina  soon  made  a  number  of  acquaint- 
ances. Among  many  others,  she  formed  an  inti- 
macy with  the  widow  of  an  alguazil  ;  and  there  was 
so  much  sympathy  in  their  dispositions,  that,  in  less 
than  eight  days,  their  acquaintance  had  all  the  ap- 
pearance of  a  long-cemented  friendship. 

This  widow,  whose  name  was  Alzina,  was  about 
forty  years  of  age,  had  been  extremely  handsome,  and 
still  possessed  sufficient  beauty  to  inspire  a  transient 
passion. 

While  these  transactions  were  passing,  I  advanced 
in  growth,  and  began  to  assume  the  appearances  of 
maturity.  My  godmother,  who  had  no  intention  to 
seclude  me  from  the  eye  of  admiration,  thinking  it 
was  time  to  introduce  me  into  the  world,  permitted 
me  to  accompany  her  on  her  visits  to  the  city.  On 
my  first  appearance  I  attracted  the  attention  of  a 
young  gentleman,  who,  inexperienced  as  I  was,  I 
observed,  gazed  upon  me  with  an  extraordinary 
species  of  delight.  You  will  easily  imagine  that,  if 
at  so  young  an  age  I  was  capable  of  making  this 
observation,  my  godmother,  who  upon  this  subject 
was  an  experienced  matron,  did  not  fail  also  to  see 
it  ;  I  even  perceived  that  she  felt  a  secret  pleasure  at 
the  discovery. 

Albina,  our  kind  friend,  sometimes  visited  us  at 
the  cottage  of  Talego;  but  for  one  visit  she  paid  us, 
we  returned  her  four,  as  she  was  always  surrounded 
with  that  which  my  godmother  so  anxiously  sought 


44Q  THE  HISTORY  OF 

after,  a  party  of  good  company.  We  scarcely  ever 
visited  her  without  meeting  with  two  or  three  officers 
of  the  navy,  and  a  young  captain  in  the  Guards,  who, 
it  was  said,  waited  for  a  favourable  opportunity  of 
passing  to  Genoa,  in  order  to  join  his  regiment  in  the 
Milanese  ;  but  the  moment  of  departure  was  always 
delayed,  and,  in  fact,  never  arrived.  Can  you  well 
believe  that  I  was  the  cause  of  this  delay  ?  This 
young  officer  whose  name  was  Don  Gabriel  de 
Ginestar,  struck,  without  doubt,  rather  by  the  lively 
splendour  of  my  youth  thai*,  with  any  beauty  I  pos- 
sessed, became  deeply  enamoured  with  me;  but 
instead  of  making  a  declaration  of  his  passion,  he 
prudently  concealed  it  under  so  specious  an  appear- 
ance, that  almost  every  eye  was  deceived.  I  confess 
I  felt  an  affection  for  him,  and  was  astonished  to  find 
a  young  man  of  his  profession  so  sensible  and  grave; 
but  he  was  far  from  being  whatjie  seemed,  and  the 
young  traitor  soon  afterwards  thTowing  off  the  mask, 
convinced  me  of  the  error  of  believing  a  character 
virtuous  from  his  exterior  conduct. 

Don  Gabriel  had  formed  a  design  to  carry  me  off, 
and  had  concealed  his  measures  so  judiciously,  that 
one  evening,  as  I  was  returning  alone  to  the  cottaee 
— a  circumstance  which  very  seldom  happened — he 
executed  his  plan  without  the  least  difficulty.  Three 
or  four  men  seized  me  suddenly  in  their  arms,  and 
carried  me  instantly  on  board  a  vessel  which  was 
waiting  ready  on  the  shores  of  the  gulf,  and  which 
put  immediately  to  sea. 

The  violence  with  which  I  was  seized  had  caused 
me  to  faint  away,  and  I  continued  for  a  lono-  while 
totally  senseless.     When  recollection  returned,  I  cast 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  441 

my  eyes  on  the  persons  who  surrounded  me,  and 
discovered  Don  Gabriel  de  Ginestar,  who,  to  pre- 
vent my  reproaches,  or  rather  to  alleviate  my  an- 
guish, addressed  me  in  an  humble  and  respectful 
manner. 

"  My  lovely  Inesilla,"  said  he,  "you  have  reason,  I 
confess,  to  complain  of  my  conduct,  and  perhaps  to 
consider  me  as  a  brutal  ravisher.  But  suspend  your 
anger,  however  justifiable  it  may  be,  and  listen  to  me 
for  a  moment  with  calm  attention,  and  you  will  not 
find  me  unworthy  of  your  forgiveness.  Observe,  I 
implore  you,  that  I  have  not  taken  you  from  the  pro- 
tecting care  of  a  tender  father  or  affectionate  mother 
but  from  the  custody  of  a  woman  who  is  a  stranger 
to  your  family,  from  a  woman  who  would  have  sold 
your  honour ;  for  I  know  her  better  than  you  do,  and 
am  convinced  that  she  has  only  protected  you 
hitherto  with  this  infamous  view.  Therefore,  my 
charming  maid,  instead  of  considering  me  as  your 
enemy,  you  ought  to  view  me  as  an  agent  sent  by 
Heaven  to  shield  your  innocence  from  the  danger  10 
which  it  was  exposed.  I  am  a  gentleman  of  inde- 
pendent fortune;  I  adore  you.  Permit  me  to  con- 
duct you  to  my  mansion,  and  as  a  proof  of  the  purity 
of  my  intentions,  to  offer  you  my  hand  in  marriage." 

Don  Gabriel  expressed  these  sentiments  with  such 
eloquent  tenderness,  that  the  outrage  he  had  commit- 
ted vanished  from  my  view.  Instead  of  invectives 
and  imprecations,  I  could  only  answer  him  with 
sighs  and  tears  ;  and  he  permitted  me  to  indulge  my 
feelings  without  interruption.  While  this  unequal 
conflict  was  passing  in  my  mind,  the  fatal  vessel 
arrived  at  a  creek   near  Tortosa,  where  this  second 


442  THE  HISTORY  OF 

Paris  carried  me  on  shore,  and,  handing-  me  into  a 
carriage  which  had  been  previously  provided  by  his 
orders,  we  arrived  in  a  short  time  at  the  castle  of 
Ginestar. 

Conceive,  my  dear  brother,  the  alarm  I  felt  on 
finding  myself  entirely  at  the  mercy  of  my  ravisher ; 
but  he  appeared  so  respectful  and  polite,  that  my 
fears  in  some  degree  subsided;  and,  having  promised 
not  to  conceal  anything  from  you,  I  must  even  con- 
fess that  I  brought  myself  in  a  short  time  to  look  on 
him  without  apprehension. 

"  My  dear  Inesilla,"  said  -I,  interrupting  my  sister 
in  this  part  of  her  narrative,  "it  is  not  difficult  to 
divine  the  rest.  The  gentleman  in  time  appeared 
amiable ;  your  heart  beat  responsive  to  his  love ; 
and  you  continued  mistress  of  his  house,  without 
becoming  his  wife." 

"No;  pardon  me,"  replied  Inesilla;  "he  performed 
his  promise,  married  me,  and  convinced  me,  by  his 
conduct,  of  the  integrity  of  his  character.  Receiving 
from  him  every  attention  which  a  wife  can  expect, 
my  heart,  sensible  of  his  tenderness,  repaid  his  kind- 
ness with  gratitude.  The  union  in  which  we  lived 
was  perfect ;  but  scarcely  had  we  tasted  the  felicities 
of  our  happy  state,  when  we  were  obliged  to  part. 
Don  Gabriel  was  ordered  to  join  his  regiment  in 
Italy ;  and  soon  afterwards  a  battle  was  fought,  the 
first  he  was  ever  engaged  in,  in  which  he  lost  his 
life. 

In  addition  to  my  misfortune,  I  received,  with 
the  sad  nev/s  of  his  death,  information  of  a  circum- 
stance, of  which  I  was  before  entirely  ignorant  ;  for 
Don  Gabriel  never  communicated  to  me  the  situa- 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  44 j 

tion  of  his  affairs.  It  appeared  that  all  the  inherit- 
ance he  derived  from  his  father  was  his  great  name  ; 
that  his  estate  at  Ginestar  was  mortgaged  far  beyond 
its  present  value  ;  and  that  I  should  be  extremely 
fortunate  if  his  creditors  did  not  wrest  from  me  the 
trifling  annuity  he  had  settled  on  me,  by  way  of 
jointure,  previous  to  our  marriage. 

I  was  now  reduced  to  the  situation  of  a  noble  but 
indigent  widow;  but  a  dowager  of  fifteen  years  of 
age  is  not  usually  abandoned  by  the  world.  Don 
Cosmo  de  Tevisa,  a  gentleman  of  landed  property 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  castle  of  Ginestar,  and  the 
uncle  of  my  deceased  husband,  came  immediately 
to  me  with  an  offer  of  his  services.  H-e  was  between 
fifty  and  sixty  years  of  age,  venerable  and  philo- 
sophic in  his  appearance  ;  and  in  his  conversation 
a  perfect  Seneca,  for  it  consisted  entirely  of  moral 
sentences.  He  had  frequently  visited  at  the  castle, 
but  his  attentions  to  me  after  I  was  widowed  con- 
siderably increased. 

"  My  dear  niece,"  said  he,  on  his  first  visit  after 
the  death  of  Don  Gabriel,  "  incapable  as  I  may 
be  of  removing  your  afflictions,  I  may  at  least 
endeavour  to  alleviate  them,  by  offering  you  my 
fortune  and  my  advice." 

This  generous  offer  he  accompanied  with  so  many 
affectionate  expressions,  and  appeared  so  sensible 
of  my  situation,  that  I  returned  my  thanks  to  Heaven 
for  having  sent  me  a  friend  with  so  compassionate 
a  heart.  The  seeming  sincerity  of  his  friendship, 
and  still  more  the  veneration  that  was  due  to  his 
age,  inspired  me  with  confidence  and  esteem;  for  I 
conceived  the  bosoms  of  the  aged  were  freed  from 


444  THE  HISTORY  OF 

the  tyranny  of  love ;  I  was,  however,  soon  unde- 
ceived. The  philosophic  Don  Cosmo,  on  his  second 
visit,  convinced  me  that,  in  spite  of  his  philosophy, 
a.violent  and  increasing  passion  for  me  was  working 
in  his  breast  :  he  vainly  endeavoured  to  conceal  it 
under  the  veil  of  friendship  ;  for  it  burst  forth  in  all 
his  conversations.  During  our  interview,  he  pressed 
me  with  great  warmth  to  accept  the  protection  of 
his  house. 

"  The  creditors  of  Don  Gabriel,"  said  he,  "  will 
soon  seize  upon  his  estate,  and  it  will  be  mortifying 
to  you  to  be  driven  from  the  castle.  Come  to  my 
mansion,"  added  he,  in  a  soft  accent;  "come  and 
reside  upon  my  estate.  It  is,  as  you  know,  pleasantly 
situated ;  besides,  there  are  in  its  neighbourhood 
many  ladies  of  merit,  with  whom  you  may  pass  your 
time  very  agreeably.  You  will  also  live  with  an 
uncle,  whose  happiness  your  company  and  conver- 
sation will  tend  greatly  to  increase." 

A  thought  passed  silently  through  my  mind  as 
Don  Cosmo  uttered  these  words.  "  Oh  ho  !  "  said  I 
to  myself,  "  I  have  a  very  affectionate  uncle  !  He 
intends,  I  fear,  to  make  me  pay  a  high  price  for  this 
proffered  hospitality.  He  will,  I  conjecture,  offer  me 
his  hand,  and  the  situation  of  my  circumstances  may 
possibly  induce  me  to  listen  to  his  suit." 

My  conjecture  was  well  founded.  Don  Cosmo 
soon  afterwards  made  to  me  a  formal  declaration  of 
his  love,  expressed  the  captivity  in  which  he  was 
held  by  my  charms,  and  assured  me  that  he  was 
ready  to  marry  me  immediately ;  adding,  in  order  to 
gild  the  pill,  and  make  me  swallow  it  with  less 
reluctance,  that  he  would  provide  for  me  in  such  a 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  445 

manner  as  would  compensate  for  the  want  of  youth, 
which  he  no  longer  possessed.  Inclination,  had  that 
alone  been  consulted,  would  have  politely  dismissed 
my  loving  uncle,  whose  person  was  but  ill  formed  to 
interest  a  youthful  fancy  in  its  favour ;  but  I  had 
already  begun  to  think  seriously,  and  I  at  length 
consented,  not  without  aversion,  that  this  old  gentle- 
man should  become  my  second  husband. 

A  man  who,  in  the  autumn  of  life,  marries  a  woman 
young  enough  to  be  his  granddaughter,  attaches 
himself  to  her,  in  general,  with  extraordinary  fond- 
ness. The  happiness  of  the  unfortunate  Don  Cosmo, 
therefore,  was  not  of  long  duration.  At  the  end  of 
six  months  I  again  became  a  widow  !  with  this  differ- 
ence, indeed,  that  my  second  nuptials  had  placed  me 
in  an  easy  situation,  without  injuring  any  of  my 
charms  ;  for  my  two  husbands  had,  as  it  were,  flitted 
like  shadows  from  my  arms. 

"  1  fancy,"  said  I  to  my  sister  at  these  words,  which 
excited  a  smile,  "  that  you  did  not  long  continue  in 
this  easy  situation  :  come,  if  you  please,  to  your  third 
husband." 

"  I  request,  my  dear  brother,"  replied  she,  "  that 
you  will  not  jest  with  such  serious  subjects.  No 
p  n  of  my  narration  can,  I  think,  authorise  you  to 
entertain  suspicions  of  my  virtue." 

"  On  the  contrary,"  replied  I,  "  so  far  am  I  from 
condemning  your  second  marriage,  that  it  appears 
to  me  a  strong  proof  of  your  wisdom  and  prudence. 
But  if  you  continue  to  fly  from  husband  to  husband, 
I  am  fearful  you  will  be  thought  to  have  followed 
inclination  too  closely." 

"  You   are  disposed  to  pleasantry,  brother,*  said 


446  THE  HISTORY  OF 

Inesilla,  smiling  and  blushing  at  the  same  time. 
"  Certain  it  is,  that  if  I  had  had  many  other  hus- 
bands, I  should  have  been  une  franche  Francie  dn 
Roi  de  Garbe ;  but  Don  Cosmo  had  only  one  suc- 
cessor. Allow  me,  in  kindness,  this  third  husband  ; 
he  was  the  one  I  loved  the  most.  I  shall  proceed  to 
describe  to  you  the  outline  of  the  character  of  a  man 
with  whom,  after  a  short  courtship,  I  was  united  in 
the  softest  ties  of  Hymen,  and  by  what  accident 
death  tore  him  from  my  arms  in  the  prime  of  life. 

Three  months  subsequent  to  the  decease  of  Don 
Cosmo,  I  quitted  the  country  and  retired  to  Tortosa, 
to  inhabit  a  house  I  had  hired  in  that  city.  Enjoying, 
in  this  situation,  the  common  privileges  of  widows,  I 
continually  received  company  at  home,  or  sought  it 
among  my  friends  abroad.  One  day,  visiting  a 
family  where  a  numerous  party  was  assembled,  a 
young  gentleman,  distinguished  by  a  beauty  of  person 
which  everybody  admired,  entered  the  room.  The 
ladies  in  particular,  I  observed,  viewed  him  with 
favourable  eyes  ;  and,  to  speak  the  truth,  his  appear- 
ance quite  charmed  me.  But  the  pleasure  he  afforded 
me  greatly  augmented  when  I  perceived  that,  from 
the  first  moment  he  observed  me,  I  was  the  sole 
object  of  his  attention.  My  vanity  was  highly 
flattered  ;  I  ardently  longed  to  know  the  name  and 
condition  of  this  lovely  stranger;  and  I  determined 
not  to  leave  the  room  until  I  had  satisfied  my 
curiosity.  "  Who  is  he  ?  "  said  one  to  the  other,  in 
a  whisp?r,  throughout  the  assembly;  "what  is  his 
name  ?"  The  information  was  returned  in  a  whisper 
by  those  who  knew  him,  and  I  at  length  learned  that 
the  name  of  this  dangerous  mortal  was  Saloni,  and 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  447 

that  he  was  the  son  of  an  opulent  merchant  in  Bar- 
celona. 

Finding  that  he  was  not — as,  from  the  style  of  his 
behaviour,  I  had  conceived  him  to  be — a  man  of 
quality,  I  felt,  like  a  worthy  widow  of  two  Hidalgos, 
a  certain  degree  of  pride,  and  dismissed  the  young 
citizen  entirely  from  my  mind.  But  it  was  not  zo 
with  him.  Observing  him  walk  on  the  ensuing  day 
up  and  down  before  my  window,  casting  at  me  the 
most  significant  looks,  I  was  convinced  that  the 
daring  youth  ambitiously  raised  his  thoughts  to  me. 
Not  contented  with  besieging  my  door  by  day,  he 
passed  under  the  balcony  at  night,  and  serenaded  me 
with  a  concert,  both  vocal  and  instrumental.  The 
sound  of  his  voice  was  delightfully  melodious  ;  but, 
not  entirely  relying  on  his  siege  of  songs,  he  gained, 
by  certain  presents,  the  interests  of  Laura,  my  con- 
fidential female,  who  promised  him,  in  return  for  his 
money,  to  procure  him  an  interview  with  me. 

Laura  had  discovered  that  Saloni  was,  in  my  esti- 
mation, extremely  agreeable;  I  had  indeed  con- 
fidentially confessed  it  to  her,  and  she  entertained  no 
doubt  of  procuring  my  consent  to  see  him.  When 
she  made  the  proposal  to  me,  however,  I  made  many 
objections;  but  the  cunning  jade,  aided  by  the 
powerful  eloquence  of  Love,  removed  them  all  so 
effectually,  that  one  fine  night  she  introduced  Saloni 
as  a  favoured  lover  into  my  chamber. 

As  usual  upon  such  occasions,  he  threw  himself  at 
my  feet,  and  with  a  transport  of  passion  exclaimed, 
"  Oh  !  divine  idol  of  my  heart,  have  I  then  at  length 
the  happi  less  to  hope  that  your  tongue  will  confirm 
the  language  of  your  eyes  ?     Conscious  that  a  man 


448  THE  HISTORY  OP 

whose  birth  is  not  illustrious  cannot,  without  high 
presumption,  offer  you  his  hand,  it  is  the  violence  of 
passion  with  which  you  have  inspired  me  that  con- 
quers all  control  and  forces  me  to  speak." 

Having  made  th's  declaration,  he  continued  in 
silent  expectation  of  my  answer,  which  was  such 
as  induced  him  to  believe  that  his  boldness  was 
not  unpardonable.  Instead  of  affecting  a  proper 
degree  of  pride  in  honour  of  the  memory  of  my  two 
former  husbands,  I  had  not  even  power  to  conceal 
the  lurking  affections  of  my  heart.  The  youth  per- 
ceived the  conquest  he  had  made;  and,  to  render 
it  complete,  he  urged  his  suit  with  such  tender  and 
passionate  address,  that  I  was  quite  overcome.  The 
soft  eloquence,  the  charming  figure,  the  tender  pres- 
sure of  such  a  lover,  was,  as  you  perceive,  extremely 
embarrassing  ;  but,  in  spite  of  the  tender  attachment 
I  felt  for  him,  I  preserved  a  sufficient  degree  of 
firmness  to  dismiss  him  from  my  chamber  before 
the  dawn  of  day,  and  escaped  the  peril  to  which 
my  honour  was  exposed  by  indulging  so  dangerous 
a  conversation. 

"  A  fortunate  escape,"  cried  I ;  "  you  make  me 
tremble  at  the  idea  of  your  second  interview." 

"Do  not  be  alarmed,"  replied  Inesilla.  "To  dissi- 
pate your  fears  and  shorten  my  history,  I  shall  im- 
mediately inform  you  that  Saloni  wrote  me  a  letter 
the  ensuing  day,  expressive  of  his  impatience  to 
espouse  me,  and  his  intention  to  depart  for  Barce- 
lona to  procure  his  father's  consent.  I  signified  to 
him  by  Laura  my  approbation  of  his  design,  and 
that  my  consent  wo'ild  follow  that  of  his  father. 

The  youthful  lover  flew  to  Barcelona  on  receiving 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  449 

this  permission,  and  returned  again  in  eight  days. 
"Madam,"  said  he,  "my  father  has  given  me  his 
consent, — you  have  promised  me  yours; — conde- 
scend to  hasten  the  hour  of  happiness." 

You  will  easily  conceive  that  after  this  we  did 
not  long  delay  our  nuptials;  they  were  celebrated 
immediately;  and,  fifteen  days  afterwards,  my  new 
husband  conducted  me  to  Barcelona.  I  am  fear- 
ful (continued  Inesilla)  that  you  will  reproach  me 
for  having  given  my  hand  to  a  citizen,  after  having 
been  the  wife  of  two  gentlemen.  I  appear,  perhaps, 
in  your  eyes  to  have  derogated 

"Oh!  for  shame,  my  dear  sister,"  said  I,  smiling; 
"can  you  conceive  me  so  absurd  as  to  think  th.it 
the  daughter  of  a  physician  disgraces  her  family  by 
marrving  the  son  of  a  wine-merchant  ?  Had  vou 
been  the  daughter  of  the  great  Hippocrates  himself, 
I  should  not  have  blamed  you." 

"  I  think  with  you,"  replied  Inesilla,  "  that  I  did 
not  form  an  unworthy  alliance ;  and,  therefore,  I 
frankly  confess,  with  great  respect  for  the  memory 
of  my  two  husbands,  and  the  honour  of  my  father, 
that  whether  their  names  bleed  or  not  for  my  third 
hymeneal,  gives  me  little  concern.  It  was  a  union 
of  which  I  never  had  occasion  to  repent. 

My  father-in-law  received  me  with  every  demon- 
stration of  kindness,  conceived  for  me  the  tenderest 
friendship,  and  was  so  well  satisfied  with  my  conduct, 
that  he  hardlv  knew  how  to  caress  me  sufficiently. 

*  I   am   delighted,"   said    he   continually   to   his   son, 

*  that  you  have  chosen  a  wife  so  worthy  of  your  love 
Siid  of  my  auction." 

The  aifection  which  the  good  old  man  entertained 

2  F 


450  THE  HISTORY  OF 

for  me  was  not  unretutned ;  or,  to  speak  more  justly, 
I  attached  myself  to  him  as  warmly  as  if  he  had 
been  my  own  father.  Cherished  by  my  father-in-law 
and  adored  by  my  husband,  you  will  judge  whether 
my  life  was  not  completely  happy  ;  but,  as  in  this 
world  everything  is  subject  to  change,  my  felicity 
soon  vanished.  While  we  were  thus  swimming  in 
floods  of  joy  the  torrent  of  misfortune  overwhelmed 
us.  A  cliolera  morbus,  vulgarly  called  a  trousse  gal- 
lant, carried  off  my  husband  in  less  than  two  days,  in 
defiance  of  all  the  assistance  which  the  ablest  physi- 
cians of  Barcelona  could  afford. 

The  extreme  sensibility  with  which  my  father-in- 
law  and  myself  felt  the  death  of  my  adored  husband 
had  nearly  deprived  us  of  our  lives  ;  but  the  kindness 
of  Heaven  fortified  our  minds,  and  restored  us,  by 
slow  degrees,  to  health. 

"  My  dear  daughter,"  said  old  Saloni  to  me,  after 
our  recovery,  "  do  not,  I  beg  of  you,  leave  a  father 
who  has  so  much  occasion  for  your  company  to  con- 
sole his  sorrows.  Be  to  me  as  the  son  whom  I  have 
lost.     Do  not  marry  again  " 

"Alas!"  cried  I,  interrupting  him,  "you  may  be 
assured  I  will  never  again  hear  mention  either  of  hus- 
band or  of  lover.  I  cannot  feel  an  affection  for  any 
man  after  my  dear  Saloni,  even  though  fortune  should 
present  me  with  a  Prince"  - 

The  good  man  did  not  give  me  time  to  finish  the 
sentence ;  but,  embracing  me  with  transport,  "  My 
daughter,"  cried  he,  "  your  sentiments  charm  me,  and 
you  well  deserve  the  benefits  I  design  for  you.  I  in- 
tend to  leave  you  all  my  wealth,  and  from  this  day 
you  are  complete  mistress  of  this  hotel." 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  451 

Promises  alone  wotild  not  content  him  ;  he  imme- 
diately called  together  all  his  servants,  and  declared 
to  them  the  absolute  power  he  had  given  me  over 
them.  This  species  of  power,  although  it  afforded 
but  little  gratification  to  my  vanity,  I  freely  accepted, 
since  it  pleased  my  father-in-law  to  bestow  it  on  me. 

The  moment  it  was  known  in  Barcelona  that 
the  widow  of  young  Saloni  kept  the  Phcenix  Hotel, 
the  young  gentry  crowded  in  companies  to  the  house  ; 
and,  when  they  found  that,  instead  of  submitting  to 
their  idle  chatter,  I  conducted  myself  with  a  reserve 
which  is  not  usual  to  persons  in  such  situations, 
they  afforded  me  their  esteem,  and  established  my 
reputation. 

Three  years  after  I  had  been  intrusted  to  ad- 
minister the  affairs  of  this  house,  my  father-in-law 
paid  that  great  debt  which  we  all  owe  to  nature, 
and  bequeathed  me,  by  his  will,  a  considerable 
fortune. 

With  unaffected  sorrow  did  I  bewail  the  death  of 
this  good  old  man  ;  but  you  will  not  expect  that  I 
was  weak  enough  to  become  disconsolate  for  him, 
after  having  survived  the  loss  of  his  dearer  son. 
Time  has  dried  up  my  tears  ;  and  I  have  since  con- 
tinued to  conduct  the  business,  on  my  own  account, 
with  uninterrupted  prosperity. 


452  THE  HISTORY  OF 


CHAPTER    LVI. 

VAN1LLO  PREPARES  TO  QUIT  HIS  SISTER,  IN'  ORDER  TO 
JOIN  THE  NEW  VICEROY  AT  PALERMO,  BUT  HE  HEARS 
NEWS  WHICH  PREVENTS  HIS  DEPARTURE,  AND  IN- 
DUCES HUH  TO  STAY  A  T  BARCELONA. 

The  conclusion  of  Inesilla's  confession  was  followed 
by  very  warm  and  affectionate  expressions  of  the 
happiness  she  felt  in  meeting  with  a  brother  after  so 
long  an  absence.  "  I  have  already,  my  dear  Vaniilo," 
said  she  with  great  anxiety,  "told  you  that  I  have 
sufficient  to  enable  both  of  us  to  defy  hereafter  the 
frowns  of  fortune.  Let  me  persuade  you  to  spend 
the  remainder  of  your  days  with  me  in  Barcelona. 
The  judgment  your  experience  of  life  has  given  you 
will  be  of  infinite  service  to  me  in  my  present  situa- 
tion." 

"  Let  Heaven  witness  for  me,  my  dear  sister,"  said 
I,  "that  were  it  not  inconsistent  with  my  present 
engagements,  I  should  prefer  the  happiness  of  living 
with  you  to  that  of  any  other  mode  of  life ;  but  you 
know  the  obligation  I  am  under.  I  cannot  avoid 
going  to  Palermo;  but  I  will  continue  with  you  as 
long  as  possible." 

Inesilla,  conceiving  my  resolution  to  follow  the 
fortunes  of  the  Viceroy  unconquerable,  declined  all 
further  attempt  to  change  it.  To  render,  however, 
my  departure  less  painful,  I  promised  to  return  to 
Barcelona  within  the  space  of  two  years,  and  to 
reside  with  her  the  remainder  of  my  days. 


VANILLO  GONZALES.  453 

Having  passed  four  months  very  pleasantly  with 
my  sister,  I  prepared  to  embark  for  Italy,  when  news 
arrived  of  the  death  of  the  young  Viceroy.  Doubting 
the  information,  although  it  had  every  appearance 
of  being  true,  I  waited  its  confirmation  with  great 
inquietude;  but  the  report  at  length  prevailed  so 
generally  that  I  could  no  longer  refuse  it  credit.  It 
was  that  Don  Juan,  the  new  Duke  of  Ossuna,  a  few 
months  after  he  had  been  received  by  the  Sicilians 
with  incredible  joy,  in  honour  of  his  father,  had  died 
of  a  disorder  which  all  the  skill  of  the  physicians  of 
Palermo  could  not  cure. 

The  pleasure  which  my  sister  felt  when  she  dis- 
covered that  I  no  longer  doubted  the  truth  of  this 
report,  was  great.  "  Well,  my  dear  brother,"  said 
she,  "  the  face  of  your  affairs  is  now  changed — the 
engagements  which  prevented  you  from  uniting  your 
fortune  with  mine  no  longer  exist;  but  I  fear  you 
still  retain  a  wish  to  mingle  with  nobility,  not- 
withstanding the  penurious  gratitude  with  which 
the  great  have  hitherto  rewarded  your  zeal  and 
services." 

"Banish  this  idea,  Inesilla,"  said  I;  "for,  believe 
me,  I  am  sincerely  tired  of  the  great  world.  It  is 
much  happier  to  live  in  a  state  of  humble  independ- 
ence than  of  splendid  servitude.  To  officiate  as 
your  principal  assistant  will  be  far  preferably  to  me 
than  to  act  in  the  highest  offices  which  either  a 
marquis  or  a  duke  can  bestow.  Yes,  I  shall  feel 
superior  pleasure  in  being  able  to  lessen  the  cares  and 
attention  which  your  present  situation  requires.  In 
short,  I  am  satisfied  that  I  shall  live  with  you  in 
perfect  felicity,  provided  you  do  not  introduce  to  me 


454  THE  HiSlOKY  Ut 

another   brother-in-law.     I    must   confess    I    am   not 
free  from  apprehensions  upon  this  head." 

''Oh!"  cried  my  sister,  "you  may  quiet  your  fears 
of  this  danger.  I  will  never  again  put  myself  in  the 
power  of  a  husband.  I  think,"  added  she,  with  a 
smile,  "that  I  ought  to  be  contented  with  three; 
although  thev  were  " 

"  It  is  true,"  said  I,  interrupting  her,  "  your  con- 
nubial days  have  been  so  few,  that  the  world, 
perhaps,  would  not  reproach  you;  but  continue  as 
you  are  :  to  render  our  union  indissoluble,  the  temple 
of  Hymen  must  be  shut  against  both  of  us.  If  we 
are  to  live  in  uninterrupted  happiness,  there  must  be 
neither  a  brother  nor  a  sister-in-law  in  our  house- 
hold." 

"  I  have  already  told  you,  and  I  repeat  it,"  said 
Inesilla,  "the  altar  of  Hymen  shall  no  more  smoke 
with  incense  on  my  behalf;  and  I  am  ready  to  swear 
to  it  by  everything  that  can  render  an  oath  inviol- 
able." ' 

"And,  on  my  part,"  replied  I,  "I  have  long  ago 
made  a  vow  of  celibacy,  and  you  may  be  assured  I 
shall  perform  it." 

Having  interchanged  promises  to  pass  the  rest  of 
our  days,  on  her  part,  in  the  agreeable  state  of 
widowhood  in  which  she  was  now  so  happily 
placed  ;  and  on  mine,  in  the  free  and  unperplexed 
condition  of  a  bachelor,  to  which  no  other  in  this  life 
is  comparable;  "Vanillo,"  sa'd  my  sister,  "I  now 
associate  you  to  my  house  and  fortune,  which  is 
already  in  a  flourishing  state.  Let  us  augment  it  by 
our  mutual  care,  and  sign  a  deed   before  a  notary, 


VANILLU  GONZALES.  455 

that   we    hold    our   properties   as   joint-tenants,  that 
each  may  have  the  benefit  of  survivorship." 

I  was  not  such  an  enemy  to  my  own  happiness  as 
to  refuse  the  advantages  which  Inesilla  so  gene- 
rously offered  me.  I  therefore  willingly  signed  the 
deed  of  gift ;  and  by  this  dash  of  the  pen  laid  the 
foundation  of  my  fortune,  and  rendered  myself  a 
happy  man. 

Behold  me  then,  thank  Heaven,  master  at  the 
Phoenix  Hotel ; — a  condition  with  which  I  am  so 
fully  satisfied,  that  I  perceive  it  will  be  my  last. 
Well,  and  why  should  I  wish  for  a  higner  situation? 
I  enjoy  everything  in  great  abundance,  and  live  a 
life  of  perfect  independence.  That  is  not  true,  seme 
contradictory  reader  perhaps  will  say.  Can  a  man, 
in  the  service  of  the  public,  be  independent  ?  Is  it 
not  rather  being  a  servant  to  all  the  world  ?  Yes, 
in  some  degree  it  is;  but  there  is  a  wide  difference 
between  a  man  being  devoted  to  the  service  of  the 
public,  and  the  service  only  of  private  individuals.  The 
hist  is  civil  to  his  customers  for  their  money  ;  but  the 
fir*t  crouches  like  a  miserable  slave  to  the  imperious 
disposition  of  a  severe  and  capricious  master.  In 
short,  the  one  serves  without  being  a  slave,  and  the 
other  is  a  slave  during  the  time  he  serves. 


THE   END. 


/  '■ 


Sfi2tt..'»»« 


000  331  519 


VttCIUT) 


